To condemn.
To judge.
To hate.
To fear monger.
To point fingers.
To value us before others.
To look down upon.
Thankfully, we can relieve ourselves of all these burdens that we take upon ourselves. These jobs are not, were not, meant for us. And it is wrong for us to assume these tasks AS our jobs.
Again, thankfully, Jesus gave us our "instructions" our REAL jobs, and they are three, but one in the same. OUR job is:
1) To Love God.
2) To Love our neighbor.
3) To Love our enemy.
In short: Love.
That's all we need to do, that's all Jesus WANTS and EXPECTS us to do.
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God. Show all posts
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Saturday, October 19, 2013
But what am I doing?
There are times when I wonder if I make a difference in this world at all.
Sure, I work with a group of people and do a monthly serving to those in need. We provide food, clothing, care kits, etc...
When I remember to do so, I hand out McDonald's gift cards to those on the corner flying the sign. Or 20 bucks, which I was called to do recently.
But is that all I can do?
Short answer is: no.
But there's a difference of what we can/should and are called to do. We can all do the SAME thing, but that doesn't mean we are supposed to. We are all called to something, and not always is that "something" the same as what others are doing.
The group of people that I work with that do a monthly serving to those in need - that's what we are currently called to do. Maybe this is all we will be called to do, I don't know. Maybe we will expand or grow in ways I can't foresee right now, but we know what we can do RIGHT NOW.
So what are we doing?
A couple things.
While we aren't "religious," that is while most of us are Christian that has never been criteria for what we do or people to help what we do, we are Christian. We are trying to love as Jesus loves. All who come to us get help, that we can provide.
We aren't the best at what we do, there are other organizations that do what we do better...but that's okay and that should spur others on. Anyone can share God's love in any number of ways. If we can, you can.
And sure, some days, you'll think "what am I doing?" because you won't see what you have done or know that you have really made a difference. But when you need it most, God will show you what exactly you are doing.
And no, not everyone you meet will be on the same page as you. And that's fine. God will find a way to use them too, if they are willing.
Honestly, I just want people to know - if you feel a passion toward something that you want to do: do it. God is with you in it. It might not be big or get noticed. We aren't and haven't and we have served for over three years!
But God notices and those whom we help notice too!
Some servings go better than others...but we never regret doing it.
So what are we doing?
We are loving...as best we can.
Can we do better? Of course! But that's part of why we keep doing what we do...to learn to love how Jesus loves.
No, we won't always see or know if we have made any impact...but when we truly need to know we will. Trust me.
So what can you do? You know it already. God's told you. Just trust him and follow it. It might not be World Vision (we aren't!) but it will impact someone and that is the truth.
Take care,
Chris
Sure, I work with a group of people and do a monthly serving to those in need. We provide food, clothing, care kits, etc...
When I remember to do so, I hand out McDonald's gift cards to those on the corner flying the sign. Or 20 bucks, which I was called to do recently.
But is that all I can do?
Short answer is: no.
But there's a difference of what we can/should and are called to do. We can all do the SAME thing, but that doesn't mean we are supposed to. We are all called to something, and not always is that "something" the same as what others are doing.
The group of people that I work with that do a monthly serving to those in need - that's what we are currently called to do. Maybe this is all we will be called to do, I don't know. Maybe we will expand or grow in ways I can't foresee right now, but we know what we can do RIGHT NOW.
So what are we doing?
A couple things.
While we aren't "religious," that is while most of us are Christian that has never been criteria for what we do or people to help what we do, we are Christian. We are trying to love as Jesus loves. All who come to us get help, that we can provide.
We aren't the best at what we do, there are other organizations that do what we do better...but that's okay and that should spur others on. Anyone can share God's love in any number of ways. If we can, you can.
And sure, some days, you'll think "what am I doing?" because you won't see what you have done or know that you have really made a difference. But when you need it most, God will show you what exactly you are doing.
And no, not everyone you meet will be on the same page as you. And that's fine. God will find a way to use them too, if they are willing.
Honestly, I just want people to know - if you feel a passion toward something that you want to do: do it. God is with you in it. It might not be big or get noticed. We aren't and haven't and we have served for over three years!
But God notices and those whom we help notice too!
Some servings go better than others...but we never regret doing it.
So what are we doing?
We are loving...as best we can.
Can we do better? Of course! But that's part of why we keep doing what we do...to learn to love how Jesus loves.
No, we won't always see or know if we have made any impact...but when we truly need to know we will. Trust me.
So what can you do? You know it already. God's told you. Just trust him and follow it. It might not be World Vision (we aren't!) but it will impact someone and that is the truth.
Take care,
Chris
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Blessings vs. Misfortunes
A thought popped into my head the other day: what does it mean to be "less fortunate" vs. what does it mean to be "blessed?"
Perhaps it's a bit unclear what this thought is about, but it was profound to me at the time.
People, myself included, have used the phrase: I have been blessed with/to/for ___(fill in the blank here)_____.
And, no doubt, we have said (I know I have said this) there are "those less fortunate than us."
Funny, we don't call them less blessed.
With The Juniper Project, I'm sure I've said something to the effect that we are "helping those less fortunate."
Though now, I simply say: those in need.
But we don't call them less blessed.
Why not?
If we consider being in a better financial position (where we are able to help others in addition to providing for ourselves) a blessing, why is it only "misfortune" and not a "lack of blessings" that is the opposite?
I've heard it taught that God blesses people with money so that they can do great things with it. And not just money, but talent, fame, skill, etc...
So those less fortunate...did they miss out? Were they not blessed with something, anything? Or did misfortune TRUMP God's blessings to them?
Or (and this is what I think) is it that we have a skewed vision of what a blessing truly is.
Am I blessed to have my house?
Well, when I am elbow deep in sewer back up in my basement it doesn't feel so, but others would say I was.
Am I blessed to have other "things" in my life?
Depends on our view and vision.
Did God really mean for me to have such "things" as a blessing to me?
I'm having a harder time recently thinking so.
Back when I gave that guy on the corner $20.00 it was about detaching...not about hoping or a promise that I would be blessed with MORE money. It was about not putting money so high in my life - not that I chased the almighty dollar my entire life. Not many people get rich in my field of work.
So what really is a blessing?
I'm not sure I know anymore, if I even thought I knew at some time. However, just off the top of my head, I'm reminded that in the Bible PEOPLE were blessings and did bless - sometimes through THINGS, yes, but it was PEOPLE doing it to other people.
God did his fair share, and still does, but are we recognizing true blessings from just accumulation and purchase power?
I bought my iPhone...was I really blessed with it? I don't think so, but I CAN bless people with it in numerous ways.
That isn't to say that iPhones are blessings.
But as we know from experience and from the Bible, God can make good out of anything. And that TRULY is a blessing.
What I'm trying to say is this: BECAUSE we have more (things, money, etc.) than someone else doesn't mean we are necessarily BLESSED with those things or to have them. In most cases I would say were aren't. Especially if we aren't willing to say that someone who doesn't posses them isn't "less blessed."
Certainly sin didn't keep them from such blessings, as I am "blessed" with things and have sinned much in my life - and will til the day I die! We all will! If sin was the issue, why did I fare better with my sins vs. their sins?
I'm not saying that having what we do is bad - it's not. God doesn't say we can't have things. However, if we put those things first and foremost in our life and actually think we DESERVE them...then that's where we are crossing a line.
We can be thankful and grateful for what we have and we should be BECAUSE we don't deserve ANY of it.
In the end, I'm not sure I still have a great notion of what a blessing is - but I know it's not something we physically have...it's what we spiritually give and receive from each other. And maybe that's what a blessing is: something that "blesses" our souls...not our physical needs...but our spiritual needs.
That makes more sense to me...and thus someone with LESS than me, can have far more BLESSINGS...certainly they might be open for it more than I am...
Perhaps it's a bit unclear what this thought is about, but it was profound to me at the time.
People, myself included, have used the phrase: I have been blessed with/to/for ___(fill in the blank here)_____.
And, no doubt, we have said (I know I have said this) there are "those less fortunate than us."
Funny, we don't call them less blessed.
With The Juniper Project, I'm sure I've said something to the effect that we are "helping those less fortunate."
Though now, I simply say: those in need.
But we don't call them less blessed.
Why not?
If we consider being in a better financial position (where we are able to help others in addition to providing for ourselves) a blessing, why is it only "misfortune" and not a "lack of blessings" that is the opposite?
I've heard it taught that God blesses people with money so that they can do great things with it. And not just money, but talent, fame, skill, etc...
So those less fortunate...did they miss out? Were they not blessed with something, anything? Or did misfortune TRUMP God's blessings to them?
Or (and this is what I think) is it that we have a skewed vision of what a blessing truly is.
Am I blessed to have my house?
Well, when I am elbow deep in sewer back up in my basement it doesn't feel so, but others would say I was.
Am I blessed to have other "things" in my life?
Depends on our view and vision.
Did God really mean for me to have such "things" as a blessing to me?
I'm having a harder time recently thinking so.
Back when I gave that guy on the corner $20.00 it was about detaching...not about hoping or a promise that I would be blessed with MORE money. It was about not putting money so high in my life - not that I chased the almighty dollar my entire life. Not many people get rich in my field of work.
So what really is a blessing?
I'm not sure I know anymore, if I even thought I knew at some time. However, just off the top of my head, I'm reminded that in the Bible PEOPLE were blessings and did bless - sometimes through THINGS, yes, but it was PEOPLE doing it to other people.
God did his fair share, and still does, but are we recognizing true blessings from just accumulation and purchase power?
I bought my iPhone...was I really blessed with it? I don't think so, but I CAN bless people with it in numerous ways.
That isn't to say that iPhones are blessings.
But as we know from experience and from the Bible, God can make good out of anything. And that TRULY is a blessing.
What I'm trying to say is this: BECAUSE we have more (things, money, etc.) than someone else doesn't mean we are necessarily BLESSED with those things or to have them. In most cases I would say were aren't. Especially if we aren't willing to say that someone who doesn't posses them isn't "less blessed."
Certainly sin didn't keep them from such blessings, as I am "blessed" with things and have sinned much in my life - and will til the day I die! We all will! If sin was the issue, why did I fare better with my sins vs. their sins?
I'm not saying that having what we do is bad - it's not. God doesn't say we can't have things. However, if we put those things first and foremost in our life and actually think we DESERVE them...then that's where we are crossing a line.
We can be thankful and grateful for what we have and we should be BECAUSE we don't deserve ANY of it.
In the end, I'm not sure I still have a great notion of what a blessing is - but I know it's not something we physically have...it's what we spiritually give and receive from each other. And maybe that's what a blessing is: something that "blesses" our souls...not our physical needs...but our spiritual needs.
That makes more sense to me...and thus someone with LESS than me, can have far more BLESSINGS...certainly they might be open for it more than I am...
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Dear God, I'm in a pissy mood!
Ever have those types of prayers?
A prayer where you just want nothing more than to bitch to God because we are in some funk, and worst of it - we have no idea why?
The hell is that about?
Why in the world do I get into such foul moods for no good reason. Sure, my life isn't perfect, but it is far from such a foul mood I'm in sometimes. Why?
The heck is going on?
This hanging...what? Heaviness? I don't know what it is. Sure feels like a heavy wet blanket that is NOT comfortable in the least. How did it get here, how do I get rid of it?
And as I said - worst of it, I have no idea WHY I'm in such a mood. Nothing has happened that should "cause" such a mood, yet there it is...and here it comes.
Then, because of this mood, thought and feelings come up that I know I don't want around me and in my head. Mainly, "why bother?"
Why bother with anything? Why not just eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we may die?
Why not just be selfish and live for ourselves?
Heck people will just take advantage of us anyway. Besides what good and I really doing? Am I really changing ANY part of the world, because is sure as hell doesn't appear so.
I know, someone who writes and blogs about following Jesus isn't supposed to have these thoughts, nor are they to SHARE these thoughts on a blog of all places!
Well, you'll get them here, folks!
I don't do fluffy and "saintly" and whatnot if I'm not feeling it - today: I'm not! LOL.
Yes, I get in foul moods that I can't explain where they come from or why they are hanging around me. Some would say it's possible spiritual warfare...I'm not in total disagreement with that notion as a possibility, however, I'm not going to go down that path here.
Rather, I'm going to tell you what I do when I get in these mood: I go to God...and I bitch to God.
Yep, I complain to God and sometimes get a bit angry with Him. Especially about things I believed Him to call me toward that don't seem to...do ANYTHING!
"The hell's the point?" I ask, in frustration and anger and sadness...
And, much to my chagrin, I don't always get an answer - not right away.
Somewhere in this prayer, when I feel like I'm near the end of my rope, I demand from God.
That's right, I make a demand. "You gotta give me something, Guy! You gotta show me something, a reason, hope, something..."
And again, I usually don't get my answer right away...because God isn't interested in giving me an answer right away - He's interested in listening, and letting me have my tantrum...
Oh, I kind of am holding back on some of my language - but what I exactly say to God is between me and Him - and I know he can take it...He's God.
But sometimes, I think we fall into this false belief that God ONLY wants to hear about when we're doing good. I know, I know, God knows everything...but SHARING it with God is far different that just assuming God knows.
Because when we share our feelings, especially the non "saintly" ones - we are admitting we are having them. But even better: we CONFRONT them.
What makes me angry about when I have these thoughts and feelings, is I know they are not truly mine. They are not me on any given day - which is what makes me more angry for having them.
And since God knows my heart better than I, it only is right that I go to him when my heart doesn't seem to be lining up. And yes, sometimes that comes in complaints toward God. Not that these complaints are TRULY complaints toward him - though they are directed at him.
We shouldn't hide these feelings and thoughts - not from God anyway. For one, as we know, he already KNOWS we're having them! Second, by going to God, we are addressing them and fighting them and not backing away from them.
So, yeah, I found myself in a pissy mood today for no damn reason at all - it happens, it'll happen again, but I take it to God, and let loose on Him - and what is so GREAT about it? He can handle it and take it, he's God and further more: he WANTS us too.
No, I don't always feel immediately better. The clouds don't part and the angels don't sing...but I know that I have confronted it, and it will pass and what I asked for and "demanded" will be answered: when I'm in the position to best hear it and understand it.
As for today...for a couple of questions, I'm still waiting for the answer.
That's okay, I'll just keep bugging him about it. ;)
Take care,
Chris
A prayer where you just want nothing more than to bitch to God because we are in some funk, and worst of it - we have no idea why?
The hell is that about?
Why in the world do I get into such foul moods for no good reason. Sure, my life isn't perfect, but it is far from such a foul mood I'm in sometimes. Why?
The heck is going on?
This hanging...what? Heaviness? I don't know what it is. Sure feels like a heavy wet blanket that is NOT comfortable in the least. How did it get here, how do I get rid of it?
And as I said - worst of it, I have no idea WHY I'm in such a mood. Nothing has happened that should "cause" such a mood, yet there it is...and here it comes.
Then, because of this mood, thought and feelings come up that I know I don't want around me and in my head. Mainly, "why bother?"
Why bother with anything? Why not just eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we may die?
Why not just be selfish and live for ourselves?
Heck people will just take advantage of us anyway. Besides what good and I really doing? Am I really changing ANY part of the world, because is sure as hell doesn't appear so.
I know, someone who writes and blogs about following Jesus isn't supposed to have these thoughts, nor are they to SHARE these thoughts on a blog of all places!
Well, you'll get them here, folks!
I don't do fluffy and "saintly" and whatnot if I'm not feeling it - today: I'm not! LOL.
Yes, I get in foul moods that I can't explain where they come from or why they are hanging around me. Some would say it's possible spiritual warfare...I'm not in total disagreement with that notion as a possibility, however, I'm not going to go down that path here.
Rather, I'm going to tell you what I do when I get in these mood: I go to God...and I bitch to God.
Yep, I complain to God and sometimes get a bit angry with Him. Especially about things I believed Him to call me toward that don't seem to...do ANYTHING!
"The hell's the point?" I ask, in frustration and anger and sadness...
And, much to my chagrin, I don't always get an answer - not right away.
Somewhere in this prayer, when I feel like I'm near the end of my rope, I demand from God.
That's right, I make a demand. "You gotta give me something, Guy! You gotta show me something, a reason, hope, something..."
And again, I usually don't get my answer right away...because God isn't interested in giving me an answer right away - He's interested in listening, and letting me have my tantrum...
Oh, I kind of am holding back on some of my language - but what I exactly say to God is between me and Him - and I know he can take it...He's God.
But sometimes, I think we fall into this false belief that God ONLY wants to hear about when we're doing good. I know, I know, God knows everything...but SHARING it with God is far different that just assuming God knows.
Because when we share our feelings, especially the non "saintly" ones - we are admitting we are having them. But even better: we CONFRONT them.
What makes me angry about when I have these thoughts and feelings, is I know they are not truly mine. They are not me on any given day - which is what makes me more angry for having them.
And since God knows my heart better than I, it only is right that I go to him when my heart doesn't seem to be lining up. And yes, sometimes that comes in complaints toward God. Not that these complaints are TRULY complaints toward him - though they are directed at him.
We shouldn't hide these feelings and thoughts - not from God anyway. For one, as we know, he already KNOWS we're having them! Second, by going to God, we are addressing them and fighting them and not backing away from them.
So, yeah, I found myself in a pissy mood today for no damn reason at all - it happens, it'll happen again, but I take it to God, and let loose on Him - and what is so GREAT about it? He can handle it and take it, he's God and further more: he WANTS us too.
No, I don't always feel immediately better. The clouds don't part and the angels don't sing...but I know that I have confronted it, and it will pass and what I asked for and "demanded" will be answered: when I'm in the position to best hear it and understand it.
As for today...for a couple of questions, I'm still waiting for the answer.
That's okay, I'll just keep bugging him about it. ;)
Take care,
Chris
Sunday, May 20, 2012
To Love Like The Rain
Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
I have read over these two verses many times before, but not until today did they really stick out for me.
I was listening to Greg Boyd this morning and he came to these two verses. Greg pointed out that our love is to be like that of the sun and the rain.
The sun and rain do not discriminate - the same rays of sun that shine on me, shine on everyone, including my enemies.
Thus is how we are to love. Our love is to fall on everyone as the rain falls, and our love is to rise and shine on everyone as the sun does: without discrimination.
More often than not, I think of terms of "deserve." I deserve ________, they DON'T deserve ________. But love does not fall into such a category. That is: no one deserves love.
God loves us out of his nature, not because we have earned it, not because we have merited it. God's love, as revealed to us through Jesus, is freely given to all.
God is love.
And like the rain and the sun, His love is to the just and unjust.
So is our love to be.
No one "deserves" our love, because ALL deserve it.
The rain cares not who it falls on, neither should our love.
The sun cares not who it shines upon, neither should are love.
THIS type of love, freely given to all, isn't easy at first. We may have some worldly ideas and beliefs that will desperately try to hang on...but the more we love, the more we will love.
And this love is freeing!
If we love everyone, we need not have to carry the heavy burden of hate, anger, rage, jealousy, you name it...all those negative emotions that do weigh us down. We can chuck them aside and leave them for we now love.
How much easier is it to "carry" ONE way of being (love) than all the others?
Jesus said his yoke is light...it certainly is: Love.
However, sometimes it seems heavy, and I believe that is because we are still carrying OUR yoke, so of course ADDING to our yoke makes it that much heavier...so first we must REMOVE our yoke and then we can experience the ease and lightness that is Jesus'.
So as the rain falls, as the sun shines, let your love BE.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
I have read over these two verses many times before, but not until today did they really stick out for me.
I was listening to Greg Boyd this morning and he came to these two verses. Greg pointed out that our love is to be like that of the sun and the rain.
The sun and rain do not discriminate - the same rays of sun that shine on me, shine on everyone, including my enemies.
Thus is how we are to love. Our love is to fall on everyone as the rain falls, and our love is to rise and shine on everyone as the sun does: without discrimination.
More often than not, I think of terms of "deserve." I deserve ________, they DON'T deserve ________. But love does not fall into such a category. That is: no one deserves love.
God loves us out of his nature, not because we have earned it, not because we have merited it. God's love, as revealed to us through Jesus, is freely given to all.
God is love.
And like the rain and the sun, His love is to the just and unjust.
So is our love to be.
No one "deserves" our love, because ALL deserve it.
The rain cares not who it falls on, neither should our love.
The sun cares not who it shines upon, neither should are love.
THIS type of love, freely given to all, isn't easy at first. We may have some worldly ideas and beliefs that will desperately try to hang on...but the more we love, the more we will love.
And this love is freeing!
If we love everyone, we need not have to carry the heavy burden of hate, anger, rage, jealousy, you name it...all those negative emotions that do weigh us down. We can chuck them aside and leave them for we now love.
How much easier is it to "carry" ONE way of being (love) than all the others?
Jesus said his yoke is light...it certainly is: Love.
However, sometimes it seems heavy, and I believe that is because we are still carrying OUR yoke, so of course ADDING to our yoke makes it that much heavier...so first we must REMOVE our yoke and then we can experience the ease and lightness that is Jesus'.
So as the rain falls, as the sun shines, let your love BE.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
"Follow me." A Call to Action.
Jesus said, "Follow me."
This is a call to action.
"Follow."
To follow, we must DO...yet more often than not we DON'T.
Sure, we might think we are following Jesus, IE we GO to church, we GIVE to charities and the church we READ our Bibles. etc.
And while those are all well and good - are they really examples of FOLLOWING Jesus?
Certainly they are disciplines that we as Christian's work on...but how are they "following" Jesus.
They aren't. And maybe that's why we like them!
Now, I'm not saying that we are AGAINST Jesus and don't want to follow him - we do! However, the list above most times is EASIER than following Jesus.
Oh, it's not complicated, it's not a heavy burden to follow Jesus - even he promises us that - but change is hard at times and THAT'S what Jesus is calling us to do, via Following Him.
The rest of the world follows itself.
It doesn't take much study to see this.
The western world runs and works differently than the Kingdom of God.
Money is a god in the western world - as I've pointed out before, there are people who are celebrities and deemed IMPORTANT simply because they have money! They are popular and people watch shows on them and the only reason they are known is because of their MONEY.
Is this a Kingdom philosophy? Of course not.
God calls us to something different - "Follow ME"
Not follow your friends, family, culture, church (yes), society, the next fad, the hottest celebrity, but "ME."
This is tricky too, because it's quite abstract - exactly WHAT does it look like, feel, seem, appear, etc. to Follow Jesus? Can any of use truly put a finger on it? If we can, I doubt we are correct.
And Lord knows we like things CONCRETE, black and white, straight-down-the-middle, up front and clearly defined.
God doesn't always, in fact rarely, works this way - for a very good reason too: we are to TRUST Him. Trust is easy when you know all the facts...it's quite different when you can't see two feet in front of you.
What's worse about following Jesus? Well, like many of His teachings: He gives us NO EXCEPTIONS. No way to back out - yet we still try to figure out ways around this.
Thus, we read our Bibles MORE.
We DO more "Christian" THINGS - of which I am a culprit of doing! Sure, we might be doing good - but WHY are we doing good? Because Jesus called us to it or because WE chose to do it?
The problem with following Jesus is that he doesn't call us to comfort. He IS comfort, and we will find such IN HIM - but he doesn't call us to do that. No, he calls us to follow him into areas of our lives we'd rather not go. He calls us to do things (or not do things) we'd rather not.
Instead, we get more pious - as if THAT will be a fine replacement for what Jesus is calling us to.
Sadly, it's not.
While it's a lot of ACTION at time - it's more or less just spinning our wheels. Waiting to see if Jesus forgets that he asked something of us...of course that's silly.
He NEVER forgets...and that calling will haunt us until we finally do, put EVERYTHING down and follow.
Yes this means we will have to give some things up that we love. However, this also means that we will be expected to do MORE of what we love also - which oddly, is just as "bad." As with doing, comes responsibility and cost: time, money, etc.
But if we truly trust Jesus, as we claim to, then we must trust that Jesus is leading us to where WE should be. By "we" I mean, individually.
For where Jesus is calling ME is not the same place to where Jesus is calling YOU - and sometimes that is hard to accept. There are things I am called to do, that (if I am honest) I sometimes feel others should be as passionate about - however, just because I am being called to it, doesn't mean that others are being called to something else. And because I am passionate about it, doesn't mean others have to as well.
Jesus calls us each onto our OWN path as well - and that's another reason we might not follow as often as we should: sometimes that path is lonely...often times it is...and it's supposed to be!
Those lonely times on that path are to help us get closer to Jesus, depend on Him more, so he can call us into deeper and more challenging places.
While reading the Bible, attending church, giving to the poor, even helping the poor, are great things to do - they can never, NEVER get in the way of the most important thing we are called to do:
Follow Jesus.
This is a call to action.
"Follow."
To follow, we must DO...yet more often than not we DON'T.
Sure, we might think we are following Jesus, IE we GO to church, we GIVE to charities and the church we READ our Bibles. etc.
And while those are all well and good - are they really examples of FOLLOWING Jesus?
Certainly they are disciplines that we as Christian's work on...but how are they "following" Jesus.
They aren't. And maybe that's why we like them!
Now, I'm not saying that we are AGAINST Jesus and don't want to follow him - we do! However, the list above most times is EASIER than following Jesus.
Oh, it's not complicated, it's not a heavy burden to follow Jesus - even he promises us that - but change is hard at times and THAT'S what Jesus is calling us to do, via Following Him.
The rest of the world follows itself.
It doesn't take much study to see this.
The western world runs and works differently than the Kingdom of God.
Money is a god in the western world - as I've pointed out before, there are people who are celebrities and deemed IMPORTANT simply because they have money! They are popular and people watch shows on them and the only reason they are known is because of their MONEY.
Is this a Kingdom philosophy? Of course not.
God calls us to something different - "Follow ME"
Not follow your friends, family, culture, church (yes), society, the next fad, the hottest celebrity, but "ME."
This is tricky too, because it's quite abstract - exactly WHAT does it look like, feel, seem, appear, etc. to Follow Jesus? Can any of use truly put a finger on it? If we can, I doubt we are correct.
And Lord knows we like things CONCRETE, black and white, straight-down-the-middle, up front and clearly defined.
God doesn't always, in fact rarely, works this way - for a very good reason too: we are to TRUST Him. Trust is easy when you know all the facts...it's quite different when you can't see two feet in front of you.
What's worse about following Jesus? Well, like many of His teachings: He gives us NO EXCEPTIONS. No way to back out - yet we still try to figure out ways around this.
Thus, we read our Bibles MORE.
We DO more "Christian" THINGS - of which I am a culprit of doing! Sure, we might be doing good - but WHY are we doing good? Because Jesus called us to it or because WE chose to do it?
The problem with following Jesus is that he doesn't call us to comfort. He IS comfort, and we will find such IN HIM - but he doesn't call us to do that. No, he calls us to follow him into areas of our lives we'd rather not go. He calls us to do things (or not do things) we'd rather not.
Instead, we get more pious - as if THAT will be a fine replacement for what Jesus is calling us to.
Sadly, it's not.
While it's a lot of ACTION at time - it's more or less just spinning our wheels. Waiting to see if Jesus forgets that he asked something of us...of course that's silly.
He NEVER forgets...and that calling will haunt us until we finally do, put EVERYTHING down and follow.
Yes this means we will have to give some things up that we love. However, this also means that we will be expected to do MORE of what we love also - which oddly, is just as "bad." As with doing, comes responsibility and cost: time, money, etc.
But if we truly trust Jesus, as we claim to, then we must trust that Jesus is leading us to where WE should be. By "we" I mean, individually.
For where Jesus is calling ME is not the same place to where Jesus is calling YOU - and sometimes that is hard to accept. There are things I am called to do, that (if I am honest) I sometimes feel others should be as passionate about - however, just because I am being called to it, doesn't mean that others are being called to something else. And because I am passionate about it, doesn't mean others have to as well.
Jesus calls us each onto our OWN path as well - and that's another reason we might not follow as often as we should: sometimes that path is lonely...often times it is...and it's supposed to be!
Those lonely times on that path are to help us get closer to Jesus, depend on Him more, so he can call us into deeper and more challenging places.
While reading the Bible, attending church, giving to the poor, even helping the poor, are great things to do - they can never, NEVER get in the way of the most important thing we are called to do:
Follow Jesus.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Forgive us our sins...
The next (and I believe) toughest line in the Lord's Prayer is this:
Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who've sin against us.
I highlighted the AS - it wasn't until recently that the "as" struck me.
Is is "as" as in is "while" or as in "like"?
The more I got to think of it - what if it's "as" as in "like?"
Then I might be praying for something I don't really want! Because if God forgives ME as I forgive others? I'm in trouble! And here I am asking God to do just that.
This puts forgiving in a whole new context...
And one that more and more I am trying to forgive others as I want God to forgive ME. Which means: absolutely and without reservation.
Am I ready for that? Is that what I really want?
If I am to live how Jesus taught and lived, then yes.
If I want to do things my own way, then no.
Well, considering the trouble I have gotten myself into - I think I'll go with the former.
And while I don't completely like the idea that I am asking God to forgive me the same way I forgive others - I DO like the idea of forgiving others as God forgives them.
I'm not for rewriting the prayer, but one way to look at it might be: to THINK "Help me to forgive others AS YOU forgive us."
Forgive us our sins AS we forgive those who've sin against us.
I highlighted the AS - it wasn't until recently that the "as" struck me.
Is is "as" as in is "while" or as in "like"?
The more I got to think of it - what if it's "as" as in "like?"
Then I might be praying for something I don't really want! Because if God forgives ME as I forgive others? I'm in trouble! And here I am asking God to do just that.
This puts forgiving in a whole new context...
And one that more and more I am trying to forgive others as I want God to forgive ME. Which means: absolutely and without reservation.
Am I ready for that? Is that what I really want?
If I am to live how Jesus taught and lived, then yes.
If I want to do things my own way, then no.
Well, considering the trouble I have gotten myself into - I think I'll go with the former.
And while I don't completely like the idea that I am asking God to forgive me the same way I forgive others - I DO like the idea of forgiving others as God forgives them.
I'm not for rewriting the prayer, but one way to look at it might be: to THINK "Help me to forgive others AS YOU forgive us."
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Daily Bread
The next line of the Lord's Prayer is this: Give us this day, our daily bread.
As many of us know (and for those of you that don't) this is a call back to the time when Israel wondered the desert for 40 years. Each day, God would provide them with mana - which could be made into bread: hence DAILY bread.
In the Lord's Prayer, we say this.
But what do we mean?
Remember, Jesus also once said that man doesn't live by bread alone. So, are we praying for our daily bread? True bread? Or spiritual bread? Or what kind of bread?
I've heard it preached both ways...and that's exactly what I think it's supposed to be: both.
We are not only praying for our spiritual daily bread...that which we spiritually will live on, but also that we trust God will provide for us.
Exactly how? That's up to God - that's what we are to trust him with.
But instead of asking God how, we should be asking ourselves if we ARE trusting God to give us our daily bread -whichever we may need daily.
Just today I put some money into my savings account - you know, for the future. Of course, this means that in the future, should I need it, I am trusting that my BANK will provide me with this money. But in reality: what might I need this money for?
Certainly I'm not putting it in the bank, under a savings account in MY name, for the poor. That wasn't the reason for the account. No, it was for ME.
I put away that money for when I need it. But what might I need it for? Car tires? House payment? In other words: things of this world?
Will I use ANY of this money for someone who is in true need?
I don't know. I would like to say, YES! But at the moment, I really don't know.
But I know what I SHOULD do.
So am I really trusting God to give me my daily bread? In any form?
If I am honest with myself, I have to say no.
No. I make plans, just in case. Even spiritually. If God doesn't come through (as I believe he should) then I have my back up plans - just in case.
Money wise - I truly don't believe God will come through with what I need - after all, I NEED my movies and my car, and my house, and my....and the list goes on. But do I really need them?
Does anyone?
What are we really praying for here? Needs or wants?
Do we trust God to provide - however he deems fit, and with what he deems needed?
I don't know that I honestly say that I am.
But I do know that I want to.
And that takes quite a leap of faith - to trust God at his word.
So maybe I will try and change this part of the prayer. Instead of praying for my daily bread, I will pray for accepting my daily bread. Because, when it comes down to it -that exactly what I DON'T do - accept my daily bread.
I always want more...for just in case....
As many of us know (and for those of you that don't) this is a call back to the time when Israel wondered the desert for 40 years. Each day, God would provide them with mana - which could be made into bread: hence DAILY bread.
In the Lord's Prayer, we say this.
But what do we mean?
Remember, Jesus also once said that man doesn't live by bread alone. So, are we praying for our daily bread? True bread? Or spiritual bread? Or what kind of bread?
I've heard it preached both ways...and that's exactly what I think it's supposed to be: both.
We are not only praying for our spiritual daily bread...that which we spiritually will live on, but also that we trust God will provide for us.
Exactly how? That's up to God - that's what we are to trust him with.
But instead of asking God how, we should be asking ourselves if we ARE trusting God to give us our daily bread -whichever we may need daily.
Just today I put some money into my savings account - you know, for the future. Of course, this means that in the future, should I need it, I am trusting that my BANK will provide me with this money. But in reality: what might I need this money for?
Certainly I'm not putting it in the bank, under a savings account in MY name, for the poor. That wasn't the reason for the account. No, it was for ME.
I put away that money for when I need it. But what might I need it for? Car tires? House payment? In other words: things of this world?
Will I use ANY of this money for someone who is in true need?
I don't know. I would like to say, YES! But at the moment, I really don't know.
But I know what I SHOULD do.
So am I really trusting God to give me my daily bread? In any form?
If I am honest with myself, I have to say no.
No. I make plans, just in case. Even spiritually. If God doesn't come through (as I believe he should) then I have my back up plans - just in case.
Money wise - I truly don't believe God will come through with what I need - after all, I NEED my movies and my car, and my house, and my....and the list goes on. But do I really need them?
Does anyone?
What are we really praying for here? Needs or wants?
Do we trust God to provide - however he deems fit, and with what he deems needed?
I don't know that I honestly say that I am.
But I do know that I want to.
And that takes quite a leap of faith - to trust God at his word.
So maybe I will try and change this part of the prayer. Instead of praying for my daily bread, I will pray for accepting my daily bread. Because, when it comes down to it -that exactly what I DON'T do - accept my daily bread.
I always want more...for just in case....
Friday, December 9, 2011
The Lord's Prayer - Part One (B)
In reading back, I noticed I failed to point out another, very key, piece to our prayer as well.
The FIRST WORDS!
Duh!
"Our Father..."
Very key words.
They are not, "Our God" or "Our master" or "Our Leader" or "Our Judge" or "Our Supervisor" or "Our Spiritual Police Officer" or "Our ANYTHING."
"Our Father."
Just those words denote something special, something different. A Father. A GOD as a FATHER. This could be a whole different post (and maybe should be) as to what this truly means for us as believers.
A GOD as a FATHER.
No, A GOD as OUR FATHER.
I think this needs to be look at in more depth...
The FIRST WORDS!
Duh!
"Our Father..."
Very key words.
They are not, "Our God" or "Our master" or "Our Leader" or "Our Judge" or "Our Supervisor" or "Our Spiritual Police Officer" or "Our ANYTHING."
"Our Father."
Just those words denote something special, something different. A Father. A GOD as a FATHER. This could be a whole different post (and maybe should be) as to what this truly means for us as believers.
A GOD as a FATHER.
No, A GOD as OUR FATHER.
I think this needs to be look at in more depth...
Monday, December 5, 2011
The Lord's Prayer - Part One
In our look at prayer, we are going to take a look at The Lord's Prayer.
However, we will go through this slow and easy.
Remember, we are trying to answer: what exactly IS prayer? What's it for? What's it look like?
To find out we are looking at the prayer that Jesus gave us as a model: The Lord's Prayer.
It starts: Our Father, who art in heaven...hallowed be thy name...thy kingdom come, thy will be done...on earth as it is in heaven.
For the moment we will start there.
What have we said so far?
For one, we addressed who we are praying to: God.
But then we say, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."
No doubt, at least in this case, we are admitting that God's kingdom IS coming, and his ultimate will, WILL BE done.
That's a pretty heavy admission! Humbling too!
Not OUR will, not OUR kingdom - but God's...and it's coming!
Where?
On Earth - as it IS in Heaven.
I have always glossed over this part in the prayer, just rambled it off in order to get through the prayer. However, now, I realize how heavy of a statement this is, and right at the BEGINNING!
We haven't prayed for anything yet - all we have done is ACKNOWLEDGE what is going to happen...someday.
So the question is: what does this mean in regards to OUR prayers?
I would take it to mean that somewhere (perhaps the beginning) we are to acknowledge that God's will, no matter what, when all is said and done WILL BE done.
And we should take A LOT of comfort in that.
A LOT.
The first part of our prayer is GREAT NEWS!
God will be done!
However, we will go through this slow and easy.
Remember, we are trying to answer: what exactly IS prayer? What's it for? What's it look like?
To find out we are looking at the prayer that Jesus gave us as a model: The Lord's Prayer.
It starts: Our Father, who art in heaven...hallowed be thy name...thy kingdom come, thy will be done...on earth as it is in heaven.
For the moment we will start there.
What have we said so far?
For one, we addressed who we are praying to: God.
But then we say, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done."
No doubt, at least in this case, we are admitting that God's kingdom IS coming, and his ultimate will, WILL BE done.
That's a pretty heavy admission! Humbling too!
Not OUR will, not OUR kingdom - but God's...and it's coming!
Where?
On Earth - as it IS in Heaven.
I have always glossed over this part in the prayer, just rambled it off in order to get through the prayer. However, now, I realize how heavy of a statement this is, and right at the BEGINNING!
We haven't prayed for anything yet - all we have done is ACKNOWLEDGE what is going to happen...someday.
So the question is: what does this mean in regards to OUR prayers?
I would take it to mean that somewhere (perhaps the beginning) we are to acknowledge that God's will, no matter what, when all is said and done WILL BE done.
And we should take A LOT of comfort in that.
A LOT.
The first part of our prayer is GREAT NEWS!
God will be done!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Seriously, what IS prayer?
Given what my family has recently gone through, I have done a lot of praying.
Now, that isn't to say I don't pray everyday; I do! But during the time of my father's illness, I prayed more than I usually did. Heck, I think some days I was in nothing BUT prayer, just to get through the day!
Now that my father has passed, and things are "relatively" getting back to normal - or as I tell my clients: there is no normal, only average.
But back to prayer.
At first, I was praying that my Dad would be healed. That he would gain his strength, be able to have surgery, and get to have him with us for a few more years. Eventually, my prayers were not so....grand. They were down to the point of just asking that my Dad have a good night sleep.
As the days passed, after Dad died...I continued to pray...but I didn't know exactly what to pray for.
After all, God knows what's going on. I'm not telling him anything new. I'm not giving him any information that he isn't privy to.
Given this, I reverted back to what I do in real times of stress and worry: I pray the prayer Jesus taught us.
"Our Father, who art in heaven..."
You know the rest.
I figure, if Jesus said to pray it - there must be a reason!
But what is that reason?
What is the reason for prayer in the first place?
I know we are supposed to - but why? Because God wants to hear a bunch of us complain about our lives and ask for help?
I hope not!
I'm sure he'll hear any prayer that we offer to him, but is that truly the purpose?
According to the words of the Lord's prayer that doesn't seem to be the case.
I have heard other teachers say that the Lord's prayer isn't so much a word-by-word prayer we should say, but a guide to prayer.
I believe this to be true - however, I don't see a problem with the word-by-word part. If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for me! And it usually is.
But what is the breakdown of the prayer? How is it a guide?
I don't exactly know, I have forgotten the sermons I listened to that spoke about it, but I have some ideas of my own.
In the next post I'll take a look at the first part of the prayer.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven.....on earth as it is in Heaven."
If you have any ideas, or opinions or beliefs, or input on how you pray, please share!
Now, that isn't to say I don't pray everyday; I do! But during the time of my father's illness, I prayed more than I usually did. Heck, I think some days I was in nothing BUT prayer, just to get through the day!
Now that my father has passed, and things are "relatively" getting back to normal - or as I tell my clients: there is no normal, only average.
But back to prayer.
At first, I was praying that my Dad would be healed. That he would gain his strength, be able to have surgery, and get to have him with us for a few more years. Eventually, my prayers were not so....grand. They were down to the point of just asking that my Dad have a good night sleep.
As the days passed, after Dad died...I continued to pray...but I didn't know exactly what to pray for.
After all, God knows what's going on. I'm not telling him anything new. I'm not giving him any information that he isn't privy to.
Given this, I reverted back to what I do in real times of stress and worry: I pray the prayer Jesus taught us.
"Our Father, who art in heaven..."
You know the rest.
I figure, if Jesus said to pray it - there must be a reason!
But what is that reason?
What is the reason for prayer in the first place?
I know we are supposed to - but why? Because God wants to hear a bunch of us complain about our lives and ask for help?
I hope not!
I'm sure he'll hear any prayer that we offer to him, but is that truly the purpose?
According to the words of the Lord's prayer that doesn't seem to be the case.
I have heard other teachers say that the Lord's prayer isn't so much a word-by-word prayer we should say, but a guide to prayer.
I believe this to be true - however, I don't see a problem with the word-by-word part. If it was good enough for Jesus, it should be good enough for me! And it usually is.
But what is the breakdown of the prayer? How is it a guide?
I don't exactly know, I have forgotten the sermons I listened to that spoke about it, but I have some ideas of my own.
In the next post I'll take a look at the first part of the prayer.
"Our Father, who art in Heaven.....on earth as it is in Heaven."
If you have any ideas, or opinions or beliefs, or input on how you pray, please share!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Why Doesn't God Grow Back Limbs?
One form of recreation I have is listening to debates between atheists and Christians.
During such a debate, the atheist brought up miracles - rather, lack thereof - as disproof of God. His main contention? God must have something against people who lose their limbs. After all, if God can heal a diseased person, why couldn't he just grow back a limb? Especially one lost to war or other tragedy?
At first thought, it does seem to be a valid question...and a tough one to counter at that. What is a limb compared to a disease? Certainly he can do it, right? After all he is all powerful!
Not to mention all the publicity God would get if someone actually DID have their arm grown back! Think about it, an Iraq war vet who lost his/her leg via IED and glory of glories their leg grew back, thanks be to God!!!
So, why not then?
Seems reasonable doesn't it? It did to the atheist.
Perhaps that's the problem though. It "seems" reasonable.
Clearly we aren't the plum bob for reason, as humans. Many bad things have been done in the name of "seemed reasonable at the time."
Do we truly think we are more reasoned than God? Do we honestly think that if it were truly reasonable to do such a thing, God wouldn't? Sure, at times we think we are more reasonable than God - we try to outsmart him with our reason. Yet at the end of the day, if we are honest, we know better - reason isn't our strong suit.
So why might God not grow back a limb? Especially one of a veteran. They would deserve it, right?
Let's get the deserve out of the way. We deserve NOTHING. None of us. And no, not the vet. Though while they may have served our country - are they any better than any of us who didn't? Why would a vet be anymore important that a child who lost their leg? And is that child any more important or special that the pastor who, too, lost their arm?
See where this is going? We can all make a case for who would "deserve" this special healing. However, none of us are truly deserving of anything, including the Grace that is given to us. So what do we value more? A leg, or Grace?
And that's the crux of the issue.
It doesn't come down to what God can/can't, will/won't do - it's our VALUE.
We VALUE the human BODY more than we should. Take a look at the newsstand, or watch TV for five minutes, or checkout all the diet/fitness books at the store, or the porn industry - we are obsessed with our bodies. To the point that we evidently see that someone without a leg, arm, all four limbs as such a less person we want God to "fix" them.
And that's the truth. We honestly don't value human BEINGS as much as we do human BODIES.
We feel bad because someone doesn't have a leg...yet couldn't care less if they have something to eat, a good home to go to, a loving family, or just a friend...
The truth is: we want God to "fix" them so we don't have to be reminded about how obsessed we are with our BODIES.
Yet we are asking God help us in our obsession?
And a loving God would do as such?
If WE truly loved, honored, cherished, treasured the person - it won't matter what part/s of their body is missing or not working correctly.
Rather than seeing them as someone God could fix.
Is that how YOU would like to be looked at?
During such a debate, the atheist brought up miracles - rather, lack thereof - as disproof of God. His main contention? God must have something against people who lose their limbs. After all, if God can heal a diseased person, why couldn't he just grow back a limb? Especially one lost to war or other tragedy?
At first thought, it does seem to be a valid question...and a tough one to counter at that. What is a limb compared to a disease? Certainly he can do it, right? After all he is all powerful!
Not to mention all the publicity God would get if someone actually DID have their arm grown back! Think about it, an Iraq war vet who lost his/her leg via IED and glory of glories their leg grew back, thanks be to God!!!
So, why not then?
Seems reasonable doesn't it? It did to the atheist.
Perhaps that's the problem though. It "seems" reasonable.
Clearly we aren't the plum bob for reason, as humans. Many bad things have been done in the name of "seemed reasonable at the time."
Do we truly think we are more reasoned than God? Do we honestly think that if it were truly reasonable to do such a thing, God wouldn't? Sure, at times we think we are more reasonable than God - we try to outsmart him with our reason. Yet at the end of the day, if we are honest, we know better - reason isn't our strong suit.
So why might God not grow back a limb? Especially one of a veteran. They would deserve it, right?
Let's get the deserve out of the way. We deserve NOTHING. None of us. And no, not the vet. Though while they may have served our country - are they any better than any of us who didn't? Why would a vet be anymore important that a child who lost their leg? And is that child any more important or special that the pastor who, too, lost their arm?
See where this is going? We can all make a case for who would "deserve" this special healing. However, none of us are truly deserving of anything, including the Grace that is given to us. So what do we value more? A leg, or Grace?
And that's the crux of the issue.
It doesn't come down to what God can/can't, will/won't do - it's our VALUE.
We VALUE the human BODY more than we should. Take a look at the newsstand, or watch TV for five minutes, or checkout all the diet/fitness books at the store, or the porn industry - we are obsessed with our bodies. To the point that we evidently see that someone without a leg, arm, all four limbs as such a less person we want God to "fix" them.
And that's the truth. We honestly don't value human BEINGS as much as we do human BODIES.
We feel bad because someone doesn't have a leg...yet couldn't care less if they have something to eat, a good home to go to, a loving family, or just a friend...
The truth is: we want God to "fix" them so we don't have to be reminded about how obsessed we are with our BODIES.
Yet we are asking God help us in our obsession?
And a loving God would do as such?
If WE truly loved, honored, cherished, treasured the person - it won't matter what part/s of their body is missing or not working correctly.
Rather than seeing them as someone God could fix.
Is that how YOU would like to be looked at?
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Who Is To Blame?
We blame. We blame A LOT. We blame the ref for a bad call, traffic for making us late, the Democrats for ruining the economy - or wait is the Republicans? Maybe it's both. We blame the terrorists, we blame the fundamentalists, we blame the atheist, the Christian, the Muslim, the guy down the street who's lawn is always a mess, those people - you know the ones - can't trust them, we blame the mortgage company because WE didn't read the fine print, we blame the kids at McDonald's earning minimum wage for having to wait TWO MINUTES before we could stuff our face with grease and fat, heck we blame McDonald's for making us fat, we blame eggs for our heart attacks and Phillip Morris for our lung cancer, we blame our boss when we are fired, blame the homeless for decreasing our home value, blame the rich that we don't have money to buy groceries, blame the bleeding heart liberals because our taxes are too high, blame the homosexuals for ruining OUR family values, we blame those wacky Christians that Adam and Steve can't get married, we blame...boy do we blame. Kid gets hurt? Who's to blame! I get sick, it's got to be someone else's fault! Blame!
Sadly, if we made a list of everything and everyone we blamed for what went on in our lives, well heck, we might just about blame everything and EVERYONE!
Why do we blame? Because we can. Especially here in America. We are a blaming society. One only has to listen to any given conversation at any given time to hear someone or something get blamed for...(insert problem here). Heck, we blame others for NOT stopping us from doing something stupid. Have you ever said, "Why didn't you stop me?" Yeah, that's called blame.
We blame because it's easy. 9/11? Terrorist of course! See? Easy.
We blame because we don't want to take responsibility, or think we might have some part in the problem.
In short, we don't want to take the time to understand why something happened the way it did, or why someone acted the way they did. We want to blame, then we want JUSTICE! That is, unless someone blames us for something, then we want mercy and understanding.
God is not free from our blame either. How often have we dug our own holes, so deep we pray for help to get out of it. And when said help doesn't come, we blame God that we are still in the hole. After all, he has the power to help us, so it only stands to reason that he should, right?
There is a saying, "When you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you."
Jesus said something similar, "Remove the plank from your own eye, before you help someone remove their speck."
Plank and speck...quite a difference isn't there?
That's the other reason, maybe the main reason we blame...if we didn't, we might have to remember our planks. And we don't want to do that.
Do we really get to blame? That is a question we should ask too. Are we in any position to blame? To point a finger, to point out a fault, to find a reason to punish in the name of justice?
What does Jesus say?
Something we don't want to hear: Love your enemy.
Say What? (or in those ATT commercials Say Butt?)
Love. Your. Enemy.
Okay, but what does that have to do with blame?
Well, nothing, because if we are loving someone we can't blame them can we? If we are truly loving someone, and they do something that might hurt us, do we get to blame them for our pain?
Doesn't appear so.
After all, does Jesus point his finger at you and blame you for his crucifixion?
Oh, we know we are to blame, there's no doubt about that...but we aren't blamed. Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit don't blame us...oddly, Jesus willingly took the punishment (blameLESS as he was) that we deserved, and didn't even want a thank you...only for us to do the same "take up your cross daily."
Love understands, it doesn't, it never blames.
"That which we understand, we can't blame." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.
If we truly love, then we strive to understand. Love our enemies, means not only to pray for them, but to understand them. Do we understand why we were attacked on 9/11? I don't truly think we do. I don't truly think we want to either, because as unpopular as it might be to say: we might not want to discover that we might have some blame to share.
So, who is to blame?
All of us. All that is wrong in the world, all the hurt, the suffering, the you-name-it...we are all to blame. We all in some form or another by what we do or don't do have contributed to it.
And if we are all to blame...well then, perhaps we can put down our fingers, start working on our planks and maybe, just maybe, get some real love spreading through the world.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Ministry Today - the magazine
First, did you even know there was a magazine called "Ministry Today?"
You can check them out HERE!
But let me back up a second...
I am a sucker for kids selling stuff. Maybe because I had to sell ads and wreaths growing up and hated every second of it - I am NOT a salesman. Whatever the reason, if I answer the door - you'll probably make a sale!
The long/short of it: I subscribed to Ministry Today...as I was starting (still working on) my ministry and thought maybe this mag could help.
My thoughts?
It's just another magazine.
Articles to sell ads.
The cover looks no different than what you'd expect for any other magazine - a list of articles promising the latest fad or "technique" to do __________ (whatever you are looking to do).
Really?
Sure the "content" is different, yet the style and execution is exactly the same. My current issue states the following on the cover: "Discover IHOP-KC'S Strategy for: Keeping platform ministry pure, spirit-led children's ministry, fasting more effectively...
What?
Fasting more effectively?
How is that different than when Men's Health has an article on: More effective push-ups?
I hate to be cynical (okay, maybe I don't) but what the he(xx)?
Effective fasting?
Have we reduced following Christ to "effective fasting?"
Want to know how your music can "go beyond worship?" (also in this edition)
I'm not sure what I expected, but I know it WASN'T this.
But before I get tooooooooo cynical, I take the words of Jesus to heart: Those who aren't against us, are for us.
So, while I may disagree with their methods (as I'm sure they would certainly disagree with mine) I leave it to God to decide. If he is cool with it, than I will be as well - though I don't have to support them by renewing my subscription, which I won't.
Are nuggets of gold to be found?
I'm sure...in fact, I found an article written by a friend's pastor (which I gave him the issue). If even for that fact, alone, the magazine is worth it.
When it all comes down to it - who am I to knock them down?
If this magazine might possibly influence the new Billy Graham, than I shall humbly step out of the way....
You can check them out HERE!
But let me back up a second...
I am a sucker for kids selling stuff. Maybe because I had to sell ads and wreaths growing up and hated every second of it - I am NOT a salesman. Whatever the reason, if I answer the door - you'll probably make a sale!
The long/short of it: I subscribed to Ministry Today...as I was starting (still working on) my ministry and thought maybe this mag could help.
My thoughts?
It's just another magazine.
Articles to sell ads.
The cover looks no different than what you'd expect for any other magazine - a list of articles promising the latest fad or "technique" to do __________ (whatever you are looking to do).
Really?
Sure the "content" is different, yet the style and execution is exactly the same. My current issue states the following on the cover: "Discover IHOP-KC'S Strategy for: Keeping platform ministry pure, spirit-led children's ministry, fasting more effectively...
What?
Fasting more effectively?
How is that different than when Men's Health has an article on: More effective push-ups?
I hate to be cynical (okay, maybe I don't) but what the he(xx)?
Effective fasting?
Have we reduced following Christ to "effective fasting?"
Want to know how your music can "go beyond worship?" (also in this edition)
I'm not sure what I expected, but I know it WASN'T this.
But before I get tooooooooo cynical, I take the words of Jesus to heart: Those who aren't against us, are for us.
So, while I may disagree with their methods (as I'm sure they would certainly disagree with mine) I leave it to God to decide. If he is cool with it, than I will be as well - though I don't have to support them by renewing my subscription, which I won't.
Are nuggets of gold to be found?
I'm sure...in fact, I found an article written by a friend's pastor (which I gave him the issue). If even for that fact, alone, the magazine is worth it.
When it all comes down to it - who am I to knock them down?
If this magazine might possibly influence the new Billy Graham, than I shall humbly step out of the way....
Friday, May 20, 2011
God and Genocide - is there any justification?
One argument that atheist bring up, and Christian's struggle with is the issue of God mandating the genocides of the Cannaanite people, and some other "laws" that seem to us to be, well barbaric (including slavery).
While I would love to be the one to address this issue, far smarter people have done so already. The following link: God a Moral Monster? is an excellent article.
A must read, and a good read too!
Peace and Love
Chris
While I would love to be the one to address this issue, far smarter people have done so already. The following link: God a Moral Monster? is an excellent article.
A must read, and a good read too!
Peace and Love
Chris
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Love Your Enemy? Including Osama bin Laden?
Yet, if one were to glance about at some Christian blogs recently, one might think this is the kind of Jesus we believe in.
Certainly looks tough, and perhaps a bit cool...certainly more manly than what we are used to...but is it correct?
With the murder of Osama bin Laden, many Christians are dang near rejoicing. An evil man has been removed from the planet - and some speculate that he is in hell.
Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I'm not going to debate that here.
What I wish to bring up is the command Jesus gave us of "Love Your Enemy."
Now, post this (as I have) on some of those blogs and see what you get. What you get is a laundry list of Bible verses (predominantly Old Testament) pointing out God's wrath and judgement and "destruction" of evil. Can't argue with the fact those versus exist.
Yet, what does Jesus tell us?
Love Your Enemy.
As in my previous post, this brings up the question of authority. Does Jesus have authority, or does the Bible. One or the other has authority.
I'm going with Jesus on this one.
He says, despite what I would rather do, to love my enemy. No wiggle room, no grey area...it's right there! Love your enemy.
Now, I don't really care what you can bring to me in the way of "evidence" in the Bible that you might have found that shows that killing OBL was righteous...because, well, I'm going with Jesus on this one.
Take it up with him. He gave a commandment - follow it, or don't...but don't try fool yourself: he meant what he said.
As a disciple we are to be like our teacher: Jesus.
How many people did Jesus kill?
In fact, he could have killed someone, and he would have been correct, just, and in his divine right to do so. Yet, well, he didn't.
Of course, this is where you get a bunch of "what if" questions: what if we didn't fight Hitler, etc.
Those questions, while they may seem to be a valid question, really are shallow in their context and cause us to rule out history and the relationship of cause and effect.
As for violence, sure it may remove a symptom (ie. OBL, Hitler) but it doesn't and NEVER HAS solved a problem.
Also, if ANYONE can find me a list Jesus gives us of all the exceptions to this rule are, I would love to see it.
It's clear, we are taking matters into our own hands...matters that if we were true to our faith, we would leave up to God. God tells us to do just that. Yet, we act as if we don't trust him.
Killing Osama bin Laden...
We call it justice...but does God?
Guess we won't know, we decided not to find out.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
On What, or who's, Authority?
It has been an interesting week seeing the different responses "Christians" have been posting in regards to Osama Bin Laden's death. I put the word in quotes because, well on the interweb it's a bit hard to tell who's being real and who's being funny.
Sadly, many of the comments I have read I truly believe to have come from "Christians." Christians who are happy, and delighted, at the death of OBL. Some even speculating it was God's will that he be killed.
Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't agree with them.
After all, Jesus said it bluntly: Love your enemy.
I posted this myself. And then came the shots. No, not too many were mean, some had the notion I didn't have a firm grasp of Biblical teachings - which I will admit too always, until the day I die (shouldn't we all?)
What was amazing was all the "evidence" they pulled out from the Bible to show how killing your enemy was fine, if not justified.
At first glance, I would almost agree that they had a case. Yet, that would only be true if not for one thing: Jesus said, "Love your enemy."
There is no question there. He does not go on to list exceptions to this rule. He does not list certain circumstances in which killing one's enemy is okay, if not justified.
Three words, couldn't have been plainer.
He wasn't in the middle of a parable.
He was speaking the truth, he was speaking as one with authority.
Which begs two questions we each must answer: Who has the final authority. The Bible, or Jesus? And honestly, you can't follow both.
One MUST have more authority over the other.
Either Jesus has more over the Bible (regardless of what it might say) or does the Bible hover above Jesus and he must fit within the front and back covers?
The other question is this: Did Jesus mean what he said?
Jesus gave NO indication that this was up for debate or that he was using hyperbole. So he must have meant it, because if he didn't mean it, why would he say it?
He couldn't lie, he couldn't have steered us incorrectly, or he couldn't have been kidding...in fact he seem to go to some lengths to ensure that we understood "Love your enemy" was EXACTLY what he meant when he said it.
Now we may not like this little fact, this tid bit of information because as a culture (especially American) this does not fit well with our view of "justice."
THAT is another part of the problem. Our brand of justice DOES NOT fit with God's...in fact there is more evidence of "justice" for God meaning giving and helping, than it does punishing.
For if we were truly more Christ-like, we most likely wouldn't have some of the issues now that we feel the need to "punish."
I'm not saying we chuck the Bible. But when we read and study the Bible, we must keep in mind who has authority over what.
Jesus has the final word - hence we are Christians.
Now, if something in the Bible (seems to) contradict what Jesus taught, we MUST error on the side of Jesus and do some digging and study to find out if the contradiction truly exists.
Loving your enemy isn't easy. Of course, Jesus never said it would be. But it IS what he commands us to do, there is no question about that.
If we are to submit to him and his authority, we must submit to this command. Regardless of what we FEEL should happen to our enemies.
Following Jesus isn't complicated, he does have a light yoke, but it is difficult - especially in this world.
Peace and Love,
Chris
Sadly, many of the comments I have read I truly believe to have come from "Christians." Christians who are happy, and delighted, at the death of OBL. Some even speculating it was God's will that he be killed.
Yet, the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't agree with them.
After all, Jesus said it bluntly: Love your enemy.
I posted this myself. And then came the shots. No, not too many were mean, some had the notion I didn't have a firm grasp of Biblical teachings - which I will admit too always, until the day I die (shouldn't we all?)
What was amazing was all the "evidence" they pulled out from the Bible to show how killing your enemy was fine, if not justified.
At first glance, I would almost agree that they had a case. Yet, that would only be true if not for one thing: Jesus said, "Love your enemy."
There is no question there. He does not go on to list exceptions to this rule. He does not list certain circumstances in which killing one's enemy is okay, if not justified.
Three words, couldn't have been plainer.
He wasn't in the middle of a parable.
He was speaking the truth, he was speaking as one with authority.
One MUST have more authority over the other.
Either Jesus has more over the Bible (regardless of what it might say) or does the Bible hover above Jesus and he must fit within the front and back covers?
The other question is this: Did Jesus mean what he said?
Jesus gave NO indication that this was up for debate or that he was using hyperbole. So he must have meant it, because if he didn't mean it, why would he say it?
He couldn't lie, he couldn't have steered us incorrectly, or he couldn't have been kidding...in fact he seem to go to some lengths to ensure that we understood "Love your enemy" was EXACTLY what he meant when he said it.
Now we may not like this little fact, this tid bit of information because as a culture (especially American) this does not fit well with our view of "justice."
THAT is another part of the problem. Our brand of justice DOES NOT fit with God's...in fact there is more evidence of "justice" for God meaning giving and helping, than it does punishing.
For if we were truly more Christ-like, we most likely wouldn't have some of the issues now that we feel the need to "punish."
I'm not saying we chuck the Bible. But when we read and study the Bible, we must keep in mind who has authority over what.
Jesus has the final word - hence we are Christians.
Now, if something in the Bible (seems to) contradict what Jesus taught, we MUST error on the side of Jesus and do some digging and study to find out if the contradiction truly exists.
Loving your enemy isn't easy. Of course, Jesus never said it would be. But it IS what he commands us to do, there is no question about that.
If we are to submit to him and his authority, we must submit to this command. Regardless of what we FEEL should happen to our enemies.
Following Jesus isn't complicated, he does have a light yoke, but it is difficult - especially in this world.
Peace and Love,
Chris
Saturday, April 23, 2011
In your Father's arms...
One of my favorite memories as a kid was water skiing with my dad around the lake.
What was special about it was it was before I could ski, so the only way the two of us could water ski was with him holding me in his arms - while holding the rope and maintaining balance.
Out there on the lake it was just the two of us skiing.
If we talked, I don't recall - we didn't need to, the moment was special enough.
If we ever fell, I don't remember.
If we did, it must not have ever bothered me because I remember it being such a thrill!
Sure it was "dangerous", sure I could have gotten hurt...but I had COMPLETE trust in my dad. He was Dad, and I was in his arms - in his arms I truly believed no matter what, I would be okay.
If I hadn't have trusted Dad, I would have never had that the opportunity to ski with him like that. I would have missed out on something special.
Can we say the same when it comes to God? Do we trust him the same way? Completely...willing to give complete control over to him?
I know I don't. Not as often as I would like to.
God calls us into many situations that, at first glance, may appear "dangerous" or "scary." We might get hurt: emotionally, financially (how we view money), spiritually (we might lose a deeply held belief), etc.
We may even "lose" something: friends, comfort, our perceived "safety", status, religion...
Yet, we must trust that despite what we see with OUR eyes, God is calling us into a special experience meant just for us to share with Him.
Sometimes I believe we know EXACTLY what God is calling us into, we just hope that he'll offer us something a bit more safe.
If we just hold out long enough.
Yet, it has been my experience that God is far more patient that us, and while he will offer us other experiences: they aren't necessarily "safer."
I trusted my Dad completely, and still do - God? eh...that, I must admit, needs (quite) a bit of work.
But I am learning, and growing to trust God...and it only happens when we take that first leap of faith. God's arms are waiting, ready to catch you and take you on an experience that you will never regret and never forget...you just need to JUMP!
And when God let's go of the rope and you both ski gently close to the dock, you'll never be the same..
What was special about it was it was before I could ski, so the only way the two of us could water ski was with him holding me in his arms - while holding the rope and maintaining balance.
Out there on the lake it was just the two of us skiing.
If we talked, I don't recall - we didn't need to, the moment was special enough.
If we ever fell, I don't remember.
If we did, it must not have ever bothered me because I remember it being such a thrill!
Sure it was "dangerous", sure I could have gotten hurt...but I had COMPLETE trust in my dad. He was Dad, and I was in his arms - in his arms I truly believed no matter what, I would be okay.
If I hadn't have trusted Dad, I would have never had that the opportunity to ski with him like that. I would have missed out on something special.
Can we say the same when it comes to God? Do we trust him the same way? Completely...willing to give complete control over to him?
I know I don't. Not as often as I would like to.
God calls us into many situations that, at first glance, may appear "dangerous" or "scary." We might get hurt: emotionally, financially (how we view money), spiritually (we might lose a deeply held belief), etc.
We may even "lose" something: friends, comfort, our perceived "safety", status, religion...
Yet, we must trust that despite what we see with OUR eyes, God is calling us into a special experience meant just for us to share with Him.
If we just hold out long enough.
Yet, it has been my experience that God is far more patient that us, and while he will offer us other experiences: they aren't necessarily "safer."
I trusted my Dad completely, and still do - God? eh...that, I must admit, needs (quite) a bit of work.
But I am learning, and growing to trust God...and it only happens when we take that first leap of faith. God's arms are waiting, ready to catch you and take you on an experience that you will never regret and never forget...you just need to JUMP!
And when God let's go of the rope and you both ski gently close to the dock, you'll never be the same..
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"...Our daily bread."
When you pray the Lord's prayer and get to "give us this day, our daily bread" do you really believe that? Are you really asking for ONLY your daily bread.
I haven't and I don't.
We certainly don't as a culture. We are a culture of "more" rather than a culture of "enough."
We want more. I want more.
I don't want my daily bread, I want my weekly bread, my monthly bread, yearly bread, enough bread that I can tuck some away, bread to fall back on, bread insurance to replace my bread if I lose my bread in a fire or if it's stolen, I'll even gamble some of my bread if it means that I might be able to win MORE bread, I'm jealous if others have more bread than I do, or if their bread smells better, or is better looking, or makes better sandwiches, I've left jobs I have loved to ones I tolerate for more bread, I even have a couple of cards that allow me to act AS IF I have bread - for a nominal interest charge, I trade my bread for junk, for crap, for stuff that within a year after purchase I'll wonder why I bought it in the first place, I have a garage sale to sell said stuff for small amounts of bread so I can make room for more stuff that I buy with my bread, if someone asks me for bread sometimes I pretend I don't have any on me - they might use my bread to buy something I don't think they should have, after all...it's MY bread right?
Next time I pray "give us this day, our daily bread" I'm going to wonder: do I really mean it?
I haven't and I don't.
We certainly don't as a culture. We are a culture of "more" rather than a culture of "enough."
We want more. I want more.
Next time I pray "give us this day, our daily bread" I'm going to wonder: do I really mean it?
Friday, March 18, 2011
"You'll get 'em next time!"
It's baseball season once again. And as proof that God's favorite sport is baseball I offer you this post.
There's an often said, though not so famous phrase said in baseball. Most people if they've played baseball have heard it, often said it, though outside of the game you're not likely to hear it.
It's most often said when a batter strikes out. As they make their way back to the dug out, one or two of their teammate will slap them on the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"
Unfortunately, because this phrase has been said so often, for soooo many years, it's lost it's luster a bit. But let's buff it a little bit and take a look at it.
"You'll get 'em next time!"
What a fabulous phrase - and I don't call ANYTHING fabulous.
There are two great points in this phrase.
1) Next time.
Next time! Yes, there is a next time! I may have struck out at this at bat, but there will be a next time, a next at bat, another opportunity!
Oh, sure, it may not be in the given game i have struck out in. Might not be in the next game, if I'm not in the roster, nor will for sure be in the same league or with the same team...but there will be a NEXT TIME!
2) You'll get 'em.
Said flippantly it doesn't mean anything, but if said with a true heart it tells the person, the batter - I know you are capable of more and I have faith that you will do better next time. But it's not in a condemning way, but in an encouraging way!
You CAN do better, and I bet you WILL!
You CAN get a home run, or a double...I've seen you do it, I have faith you WILL get 'em! Next Time!
We do this, say this because we know they didn't MEAN to strike out and we have seen them do better and know that they WANT to do better and are just as disappointed, if not more so at themselves than we could ever be, so we try to help pick them up. We don't want this strikeout to affect the rest of their game, they are a part of the team, we need them to be at their best, just like they need us to be!
We might even remind the hitter when they knocked the cover off the ball off the pitcher before and other times they came through at the plate.
One thing we don't do though, is yell and chastise them. We don't scream at them saying, "How in the hell could you have done that! You know we needed that hit! What were you thinking? Great, now I don't get to hit until next inning! It's not like you haven't hit the ball before! Did you even TRY to make contact?"
Of course not...what good would come of that?
Yet, isn't this what we do with our walk with Jesus?
If not just ourselves, to others? Even if it's just in our head?
I know I have...and still do from time to time.
I shake my head at someone and say, "why did they swing at that pitch?" "Why did they do THAT? Clearly that wasn't a good thing."
Sometimes, given the right mood, I might even go about pointing this out to them, and explaining where they went wrong and what they needed to have done and how they could have done it far better than they did because they clearly weren't paying attention or praying about it so God would want me to point these things out to them, I'm just holding them accountable for your actions because if I don't, they might not be aware of what they did wrong.
Is that what Jesus taught us to do?
No.
The job of the coach is to work with each player on what they are good at and what need practice on...WE on the other hand have quite a bit different job: we are to DO OUR BEST and to CHEER each other on and pick each other UP when we are down.
Jesus is our coach...let's let him do his job and let's focus on ours.
So let's start patting each other the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"
After all, isn't that what we'd want to hear ourselves when WE STRIKE OUT?
Yes.
So have faith, keep your head up, because I believe YOU WILL GET 'EM NEXT TIME!
There's an often said, though not so famous phrase said in baseball. Most people if they've played baseball have heard it, often said it, though outside of the game you're not likely to hear it.
It's most often said when a batter strikes out. As they make their way back to the dug out, one or two of their teammate will slap them on the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"
Unfortunately, because this phrase has been said so often, for soooo many years, it's lost it's luster a bit. But let's buff it a little bit and take a look at it.
"You'll get 'em next time!"
What a fabulous phrase - and I don't call ANYTHING fabulous.
There are two great points in this phrase.
1) Next time.
Next time! Yes, there is a next time! I may have struck out at this at bat, but there will be a next time, a next at bat, another opportunity!
Oh, sure, it may not be in the given game i have struck out in. Might not be in the next game, if I'm not in the roster, nor will for sure be in the same league or with the same team...but there will be a NEXT TIME!
2) You'll get 'em.
Said flippantly it doesn't mean anything, but if said with a true heart it tells the person, the batter - I know you are capable of more and I have faith that you will do better next time. But it's not in a condemning way, but in an encouraging way!
You CAN do better, and I bet you WILL!
You CAN get a home run, or a double...I've seen you do it, I have faith you WILL get 'em! Next Time!
We do this, say this because we know they didn't MEAN to strike out and we have seen them do better and know that they WANT to do better and are just as disappointed, if not more so at themselves than we could ever be, so we try to help pick them up. We don't want this strikeout to affect the rest of their game, they are a part of the team, we need them to be at their best, just like they need us to be!
We might even remind the hitter when they knocked the cover off the ball off the pitcher before and other times they came through at the plate.
Of course not...what good would come of that?
Yet, isn't this what we do with our walk with Jesus?
If not just ourselves, to others? Even if it's just in our head?
I know I have...and still do from time to time.
I shake my head at someone and say, "why did they swing at that pitch?" "Why did they do THAT? Clearly that wasn't a good thing."
Sometimes, given the right mood, I might even go about pointing this out to them, and explaining where they went wrong and what they needed to have done and how they could have done it far better than they did because they clearly weren't paying attention or praying about it so God would want me to point these things out to them, I'm just holding them accountable for your actions because if I don't, they might not be aware of what they did wrong.
Is that what Jesus taught us to do?
No.
The job of the coach is to work with each player on what they are good at and what need practice on...WE on the other hand have quite a bit different job: we are to DO OUR BEST and to CHEER each other on and pick each other UP when we are down.
Jesus is our coach...let's let him do his job and let's focus on ours.
So let's start patting each other the back and say, "You'll get 'em next time!"
After all, isn't that what we'd want to hear ourselves when WE STRIKE OUT?
Yes.
So have faith, keep your head up, because I believe YOU WILL GET 'EM NEXT TIME!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)