A recent conversation reminded me of a moment of family history. The conversation had to do with the need for the church to be "salt" for its community. My mind flashed back to a moment over 40 years ago. We were returning to the Philippines after a year of furlough and were doing so via a Norwegian freighter. This freighter happened to have a swimming pool; and though small, it promised to be the hit of the trip...once we got into warm water.
You see, the pool was simply filled with water from the ocean. Finally nearing Hawaii the pool was filled and the three of us boys spent most of the day in it. The salt water was a little surprising, but not daunting. That evening, after dinner with the Captain, my younger brother, Chris, climbed up on the Captain's lap. He was about 5.This happened frequently because my toe-headed brother reminded the Captain of his own young son. Needing to know, Chris looked into the Captain's eyes and asked, "Why do you put salt in your water? I like mine plain." Laughter erupted after a minute of trying to figure out what Chris as referring to.
It seems life done plain can certainly be preferable. Salt, though healing and preserving, brings a sting that is unpleasant and sometimes painful. Most of us spend time, effort and money to avoid pain when possible. But when it comes to our lives together, I pray that we might make a new effort to give and receive "salt" gracefully and in love.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Weeds
As I was mowing the back quarter (of a fifth of an acre) a fundamental axiom of life popped into my mind. Now, why this happens to some of us and not others, I don't know. Maybe because some of us have our minds so filled with useless info that occasionally a couple random thoughts come together and magic happens. No matter what the case, let me share my revelation with you!
Even weeds look better mowed!
I don't think anything needs to be added to that, really.
Enjoy your weekend!
Even weeds look better mowed!
I don't think anything needs to be added to that, really.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Star Trek and the Paradox of Grace
Yes, I am a little slow in my ability to catch on to things that others probably figured out a couple decades ago! Still, I can't help sharing this ah-hah moment with you. For those of you "fast" people, consider this as a timely reminder!!
Biblical paradox fascinates me. God, as truth, showing up in unexpected places excites me!! An unrelated case in point...to make my point...is the line in "The Santa Claus" spoken to Tim Allen as he is trying to grasp that he is really in the North Pole. He comments that he can't believe what he is seeing. An elf responds, "Seeing is not believing, believing is seeing." Gotta love it~!
At the end of the second Star Trek movie, "The Wrath of Khan," Spock (the obvious "messiah" figure for this story) is sacrificing his life to save his friend, James Kirk and all of the crew of the Enterprise. As Kirk is watching him die he asks Spock why he would do that. Spock's response is the very logical, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." (John 3:16)
Fast forward to the end of Star Trek III where Spock has been reborn and Kirk has just sacrificed his favorite starship, the Enterprise, and put his crew at risk to rescue Spock. Utterly confused by the illogic of Kirk's actions, Spock asks him why he would do such a thing. Kirk's response is the very biblical, "The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many." (Luke 15)
Both, spiritually, are true. In Christ's crucifixion we see the sacrifice of the One for the needs of the many - you and me who are helpless to save ourselves. In Jesus' parable of the lost sheep (the lost coin and the lost son) we learn that the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. God loves the "many" and the "one!" Our purpose should mirror God's. As his Body we must concern ourselves with the needs of the many and the one. May he give us wisdom, power and grace to do just that!!
Biblical paradox fascinates me. God, as truth, showing up in unexpected places excites me!! An unrelated case in point...to make my point...is the line in "The Santa Claus" spoken to Tim Allen as he is trying to grasp that he is really in the North Pole. He comments that he can't believe what he is seeing. An elf responds, "Seeing is not believing, believing is seeing." Gotta love it~!
At the end of the second Star Trek movie, "The Wrath of Khan," Spock (the obvious "messiah" figure for this story) is sacrificing his life to save his friend, James Kirk and all of the crew of the Enterprise. As Kirk is watching him die he asks Spock why he would do that. Spock's response is the very logical, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one." (John 3:16)
Fast forward to the end of Star Trek III where Spock has been reborn and Kirk has just sacrificed his favorite starship, the Enterprise, and put his crew at risk to rescue Spock. Utterly confused by the illogic of Kirk's actions, Spock asks him why he would do such a thing. Kirk's response is the very biblical, "The needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many." (Luke 15)
Both, spiritually, are true. In Christ's crucifixion we see the sacrifice of the One for the needs of the many - you and me who are helpless to save ourselves. In Jesus' parable of the lost sheep (the lost coin and the lost son) we learn that the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. God loves the "many" and the "one!" Our purpose should mirror God's. As his Body we must concern ourselves with the needs of the many and the one. May he give us wisdom, power and grace to do just that!!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Jesus' Unanswered Prayer
In this phase of my walk I am trying to focus more on Jesus. Profound, huh?!
One of my confusions as a believer in the Way has been the verses that refer to God answering our prayers for whatever we desire (John 15:7 comes to mind). I know the apologetic...we must be "abiding" in Christ, or "ask in my name" but it seems that even in those situations...though really only God can judge...many unselfish prayers still go unanswered.
Last week the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus had an unanswered prayer. For the rest of Jesus life, as far as we know, his Father's answer to his requests had always been "yes" and certainly he was "abiding" and approaching this request in the way that had always been effective before. In the garden however, the night he was arrested, he prayed earnestly that his Father would take "this cup" from him. His Father had to say "no" and we know that Jesus response was, "not my will, but yours be done."
So, does that realization make the times God says "no" easier. Probably not. What Jesus experienced was horrific and some of the paths his people walk mirror that suffering, at least in part. But, we are not alone. Once again we find that Jesus has given us an example. God sometimes says "no." We, with Jesus, along with not relishing what is ahead, must submit ourselves to God's wisdom and will for us and for those we love.
Let me be honest; this fact of our life in the way I don't particularly like. I, so much, want to be in control and for God to be my genie when I need him. But I know that way does not lead to victory. Victory does not lie in our power or might (or wisdom or getting our way) but in and by God's Spirit.
One of my confusions as a believer in the Way has been the verses that refer to God answering our prayers for whatever we desire (John 15:7 comes to mind). I know the apologetic...we must be "abiding" in Christ, or "ask in my name" but it seems that even in those situations...though really only God can judge...many unselfish prayers still go unanswered.
Last week the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus had an unanswered prayer. For the rest of Jesus life, as far as we know, his Father's answer to his requests had always been "yes" and certainly he was "abiding" and approaching this request in the way that had always been effective before. In the garden however, the night he was arrested, he prayed earnestly that his Father would take "this cup" from him. His Father had to say "no" and we know that Jesus response was, "not my will, but yours be done."
So, does that realization make the times God says "no" easier. Probably not. What Jesus experienced was horrific and some of the paths his people walk mirror that suffering, at least in part. But, we are not alone. Once again we find that Jesus has given us an example. God sometimes says "no." We, with Jesus, along with not relishing what is ahead, must submit ourselves to God's wisdom and will for us and for those we love.
Let me be honest; this fact of our life in the way I don't particularly like. I, so much, want to be in control and for God to be my genie when I need him. But I know that way does not lead to victory. Victory does not lie in our power or might (or wisdom or getting our way) but in and by God's Spirit.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
"Christian" priorities??
One thing we became very aware of while living in another country was just how many things we thought were basic to our "Biblical" belief system but were actually things we valued as North Americans. Things like capitalism, democracy, individualism and egalitarianism (we all have equal rights) come to mind.
Another "Americanism" (but not original to us) that was certainly not part of early middle eastern thinking was the idea of compartmentalization. We tend to separate things into groupings, categorize them and then prioritize them. This is much the result of the Scientific Revolution and very "modern." We have certainly seen a move away from this, in our more "post-modern" culture, to a more holistic, mystical view of life and faith.
Enter a recent conversation concerning the priority of God in our lives. The very "modern" view is that God is first, family is second, ministry is third etc. I am not sure God intended us to have a priority list and, if he did, I might suggest that we have it skewed. Maybe God is all and in all better sums up my thought here.
This plays out in our lives in that loving your spouse and children is loving and worshipping God. Doing all things as if doing them for Christ (Col. 3:23) is loving and worshipping God. Caring for the hurting around us is loving and worshipping God. Enjoying God's creation gift to us is loving and worshipping him. These things are not second to our love and commitment to God. They define and deepen it. This is not to say that time communing with God individually loses value, but is an integral part of a bigger construct...the divine "both/and" so to speak.
Just think of Jesus approach to the Pharisees. They were more committed to holiness than most of us today. Their goal was to do everything exactly as God had commanded. Yet Jesus accused them of missing the point totally. God made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath was one of the ways Jesus illustrated this point in Mark 2:27 (Jeff's paraphrase). Who were closer to God in Jesus' eyes? The "publican" who beat his chest saying "Have mercy on me, a sinner."
Another "Americanism" (but not original to us) that was certainly not part of early middle eastern thinking was the idea of compartmentalization. We tend to separate things into groupings, categorize them and then prioritize them. This is much the result of the Scientific Revolution and very "modern." We have certainly seen a move away from this, in our more "post-modern" culture, to a more holistic, mystical view of life and faith.
Enter a recent conversation concerning the priority of God in our lives. The very "modern" view is that God is first, family is second, ministry is third etc. I am not sure God intended us to have a priority list and, if he did, I might suggest that we have it skewed. Maybe God is all and in all better sums up my thought here.
This plays out in our lives in that loving your spouse and children is loving and worshipping God. Doing all things as if doing them for Christ (Col. 3:23) is loving and worshipping God. Caring for the hurting around us is loving and worshipping God. Enjoying God's creation gift to us is loving and worshipping him. These things are not second to our love and commitment to God. They define and deepen it. This is not to say that time communing with God individually loses value, but is an integral part of a bigger construct...the divine "both/and" so to speak.
Just think of Jesus approach to the Pharisees. They were more committed to holiness than most of us today. Their goal was to do everything exactly as God had commanded. Yet Jesus accused them of missing the point totally. God made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath was one of the ways Jesus illustrated this point in Mark 2:27 (Jeff's paraphrase). Who were closer to God in Jesus' eyes? The "publican" who beat his chest saying "Have mercy on me, a sinner."
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