The Scripture for today contains the section known as the parable of the sower, or, to some, the parable of the seed, or the parable of the ground. This familiar story is one that Jesus uses in his teaching, both to the twelve disciples and also the crowd in general.
When I read it again, I think first of all that I have read it and heard messages on this passage a number of times. What could be in it for me this time around? But as I think on it, the thought comes that the main ingredient in it is the ground. The sower is the same, the seed is the same, but only the ground changes.
The ground can represent my life in its various reactions to the word as sown by God. There is the path, the beaten down soil that has no time to take in the seed. Activity and busyness consume all my time and there is nothing left for what really matters.
There is also the rocky ground, filled with stones of disinterest, of "ho hum I've heard this before", or of a fleeting interest, but no lasting reflection on any meaning. There is some soil there, enough to catch some seed and cause it to sprout, but no deepness of study to see what it really means in my life.
Then there is the thorny and weedy ground. There is soil there that will produce something, but there is so much stuff already there that there is no room for anything better. Good seeds can germinate and grow initially, but then the things that I just have to do, take all my time and effort.
There is also that "good soil", that plowed ground that is ready to receive. It has been prepared for production and can yield a crop.
In my mind's eye I see that seed spinning from a cyclone seeder on a sidewalk, a gravel drive, a weedy patch off to the side and on ground in a yard that has been raked and somewhat prepared to receive it. Just me, my seeder and my yard.
This analogy is a reflection of my time of study. If I make it a priority, the first thing in the day, I find that my mind is open to what God wants to show me. If I get busy in doing stuff and do not sit down till later, the busyness and concerns of the day have already taken root and make it difficult to really get into it.
God is sowing, but is my ground prepared to receive?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Whoa, Nellie!
There is an incident, recorded by Mark in chapter 3, where Jesus seems to disown His own mother and brothers. He tells the crowd that those who want to do the will of God are His brothers, sisters and mother. Jesus is not being disrespectful to His own, just making a point about following God.
People down through the years in the church have used those terms, brother and sister, to denote others in the Body that are members of God's kingdom just like they are. There is a bond among those who seek the will of God and share a common purpose in working it out together.
Working in various churches over the years and in the prison ministry, I have been thrown in with many folks, some of whom, for various reasons, seem to rub me the wrong way. I judge their motives, attitudes, and ways of working. I think that their service is suspect, because it does not jive with the way that I think it ought to be done. In short, it becomes more about me and not about God's leading in whatever task we are to do together.
Whoa, who am I anyway?
When I go into prison in a few days from now, I will be working with a team of men, some of whom are quite different in style, manner, education and temperament, but we are all called to the same task. When the inmates see us, they need to see brothers working together for the purpose that God has put before each of us. A group of individuals, sure, but on the same page, God's page.
In that same prison setting, with this team, in that environment, and then with the new element of forty-two inmates, now that will be an eclectic group. Differences abound, but one thing is sure. I will have some new "brothers" when that weekend is over, and that will be a good thing.
No, actually it will be a God thing.
People down through the years in the church have used those terms, brother and sister, to denote others in the Body that are members of God's kingdom just like they are. There is a bond among those who seek the will of God and share a common purpose in working it out together.
Working in various churches over the years and in the prison ministry, I have been thrown in with many folks, some of whom, for various reasons, seem to rub me the wrong way. I judge their motives, attitudes, and ways of working. I think that their service is suspect, because it does not jive with the way that I think it ought to be done. In short, it becomes more about me and not about God's leading in whatever task we are to do together.
Whoa, who am I anyway?
When I go into prison in a few days from now, I will be working with a team of men, some of whom are quite different in style, manner, education and temperament, but we are all called to the same task. When the inmates see us, they need to see brothers working together for the purpose that God has put before each of us. A group of individuals, sure, but on the same page, God's page.
In that same prison setting, with this team, in that environment, and then with the new element of forty-two inmates, now that will be an eclectic group. Differences abound, but one thing is sure. I will have some new "brothers" when that weekend is over, and that will be a good thing.
No, actually it will be a God thing.
Monday, February 27, 2012
I Wonder.....
How is God revealing Himself to me this morning. What is my relationship with the disciples that Jesus called to be His inner circle, ones that He had separated from the crowd that followed after Him? Do I see myself in that circle of close disciples, or still in that crowd that will continue to show up wherever Jesus is teaching?
Are these twelve men special right then, or just special because of what they will become after three years with the Master? What were their thoughts when Jesus called them out and took them up into the mountain to begin their relationship with Him? Were there any personal agendas or motives for these men, reasons why they would want to become disciples?
I can't see into their lives or hearts or know them personally at this point in the story. At this place in time, each of them did not even know what was to come, they only knew that the One that they had listened to, and watched heal the sick and demon possessed, was calling them to learn from Him, a personal invitation to be apart of something or someone.
The book I am reading now, Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas, chronicles the life of the German Lutheran pastor, writer of the book, The Cost of Discipleship, as he lives out his calling in Nazi Germany before and during World War II. His discipleship involved a hanging in a German prison camp in 1945, and he is labeled a martyr for Christ.
Tradition has it that all of Jesus' original disciples died a martyr's death, except John and Judas. They may not have signed on for this end, but it is what they got.
My Christian discipleship has question marks all over it. Not that I do not believe it is the way, just in what it may mean as my life completes its cycle.
I wonder, both about my future life and about my level of commitment.
I wonder.....
Are these twelve men special right then, or just special because of what they will become after three years with the Master? What were their thoughts when Jesus called them out and took them up into the mountain to begin their relationship with Him? Were there any personal agendas or motives for these men, reasons why they would want to become disciples?
I can't see into their lives or hearts or know them personally at this point in the story. At this place in time, each of them did not even know what was to come, they only knew that the One that they had listened to, and watched heal the sick and demon possessed, was calling them to learn from Him, a personal invitation to be apart of something or someone.
The book I am reading now, Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas, chronicles the life of the German Lutheran pastor, writer of the book, The Cost of Discipleship, as he lives out his calling in Nazi Germany before and during World War II. His discipleship involved a hanging in a German prison camp in 1945, and he is labeled a martyr for Christ.
Tradition has it that all of Jesus' original disciples died a martyr's death, except John and Judas. They may not have signed on for this end, but it is what they got.
My Christian discipleship has question marks all over it. Not that I do not believe it is the way, just in what it may mean as my life completes its cycle.
I wonder, both about my future life and about my level of commitment.
I wonder.....
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Props, Pawns or People?
The story in Mark 2 today is that of Jesus healing the man with the withered hand, even though it was the Sabbath.
As I think about the way Mark tells the story, in my mind I see the Pharisees setting it all up to catch Jesus breaking the law of that religious day, a day in which no work was to be done according to commandment in Exodus 20. Could it be that these religious leaders had found this man and brought him into the House of God for the very purpose of giving them ammunition for their ultimate plan of discrediting Jesus in the eyes of the people?
Regardless, this man was there and Jesus noticed him. Calling the man to Him, Jesus then proceeded to ask the Pharisees if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a man's life, his livelihood and his worth, on a holy day or not. When they did not answer, he told the man to stretch out his had and it was healed.
I think about this man who was healed. In the story he does not even speak. He becomes a prop, a piece of the scenery for the play that the leaders set up in order to trap Jesus into breaking their law. He is also their pawn, just a piece for their game, but to Jesus he is a real person. Jesus acknowledges him, and heals him. Did Jesus use him to make a point? Sure, but I bet He also saw him as a man who needed to be made whole.
How do I treat people as they pass through my life? As props for my story, but unimportant in the greater scheme of things? As pawns that I can move around to let me win the game, or as persons that deserve to be recognized as such?
I will be thrown in with people today that I do not know, that may only be there for that one moment. So, how do I treat them?
I recognize that my part in God's continuing story is minute. It is not my story that is important, it is His, and others are in that story as well. They are important to God and should be to me as well.
God, please help me to treat them, not as pawns or props, but as people. Let me see them as You do.
As I think about the way Mark tells the story, in my mind I see the Pharisees setting it all up to catch Jesus breaking the law of that religious day, a day in which no work was to be done according to commandment in Exodus 20. Could it be that these religious leaders had found this man and brought him into the House of God for the very purpose of giving them ammunition for their ultimate plan of discrediting Jesus in the eyes of the people?
Regardless, this man was there and Jesus noticed him. Calling the man to Him, Jesus then proceeded to ask the Pharisees if it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a man's life, his livelihood and his worth, on a holy day or not. When they did not answer, he told the man to stretch out his had and it was healed.
I think about this man who was healed. In the story he does not even speak. He becomes a prop, a piece of the scenery for the play that the leaders set up in order to trap Jesus into breaking their law. He is also their pawn, just a piece for their game, but to Jesus he is a real person. Jesus acknowledges him, and heals him. Did Jesus use him to make a point? Sure, but I bet He also saw him as a man who needed to be made whole.
How do I treat people as they pass through my life? As props for my story, but unimportant in the greater scheme of things? As pawns that I can move around to let me win the game, or as persons that deserve to be recognized as such?
I will be thrown in with people today that I do not know, that may only be there for that one moment. So, how do I treat them?
I recognize that my part in God's continuing story is minute. It is not my story that is important, it is His, and others are in that story as well. They are important to God and should be to me as well.
God, please help me to treat them, not as pawns or props, but as people. Let me see them as You do.
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Shadow Knows
The reading in Mark 2 this morning is about Jesus' answer to the question from the people about His disciples not fasting when other leaders, including John the Baptist were practicing this technique of drawing closer to God. Jesus gives them three examples from practical Jewish life, trying to show them the reason why.
The first example concerned wedding guests and the bridegroom, the second about new cloth sewed onto an already used cloth, and the third about new wine in old wineskins. Each of these carried the message that it would be foolish to live life in that way. Be smart and you will be able to use that which you now have, in these cases, fellowship with the bridegroom, a garment, and the wine and containers. A wise man just would not do this.
A friend of mine and I had a conversation yesterday about the contents of a book that I had given him to look at. I spoke of this book the other day, the one about a Buddhist-Christian and his search for the authentic Jesus. The author, raised in a traditional religious setting, found that the things he heard in those churches just did nothing for him in the way of discovering God. He wanted more than he was getting, and so he looked for new ideas and sources of inspiration. Besides he found most people in the church teaching one way and living another. There was not a consistency in their lives, and the fact that lives were so compartmentalized gave credence to the idea of hypocrisy in religious matters.
So, this author went searching for other sources, other pathways to God. His longing for God was real, but the path led him away from God and toward men. He looked at different philosophers, different authors and new ideas, not that searching was bad, it was not, but he seemed to be looking into all the wrong places. His search seemed to lead him away from the God of the Bible and into men's ideas about God and Jesus, ideas that replaced God's Word with men's. New wine into old wineskins as it were.
I come away from this book with the idea that the author's search is not complete, that he is still searching and hoping that the next new idea or philosophy will be the breakthrough that he wants.
God wants us to use our minds, that why He gave them to us, but a search for wisdom and understanding that relies on the words of a man, or men, is a dangerous path when we reject what God has already given, or try to add to it, or take some of it away.
Studying, yes; questioning yes: alteration no. Caution is required lest all we be left with is a fleeting shadow in a dark alley.
The first example concerned wedding guests and the bridegroom, the second about new cloth sewed onto an already used cloth, and the third about new wine in old wineskins. Each of these carried the message that it would be foolish to live life in that way. Be smart and you will be able to use that which you now have, in these cases, fellowship with the bridegroom, a garment, and the wine and containers. A wise man just would not do this.
A friend of mine and I had a conversation yesterday about the contents of a book that I had given him to look at. I spoke of this book the other day, the one about a Buddhist-Christian and his search for the authentic Jesus. The author, raised in a traditional religious setting, found that the things he heard in those churches just did nothing for him in the way of discovering God. He wanted more than he was getting, and so he looked for new ideas and sources of inspiration. Besides he found most people in the church teaching one way and living another. There was not a consistency in their lives, and the fact that lives were so compartmentalized gave credence to the idea of hypocrisy in religious matters.
So, this author went searching for other sources, other pathways to God. His longing for God was real, but the path led him away from God and toward men. He looked at different philosophers, different authors and new ideas, not that searching was bad, it was not, but he seemed to be looking into all the wrong places. His search seemed to lead him away from the God of the Bible and into men's ideas about God and Jesus, ideas that replaced God's Word with men's. New wine into old wineskins as it were.
I come away from this book with the idea that the author's search is not complete, that he is still searching and hoping that the next new idea or philosophy will be the breakthrough that he wants.
God wants us to use our minds, that why He gave them to us, but a search for wisdom and understanding that relies on the words of a man, or men, is a dangerous path when we reject what God has already given, or try to add to it, or take some of it away.
Studying, yes; questioning yes: alteration no. Caution is required lest all we be left with is a fleeting shadow in a dark alley.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
A Faith Story
There is no telling how many times I have read or heard the story that is the message in today's reading. Mark 2: 1-12 carries the episode in Jesus' ministry.
A man, a paralytic, lowered down from a roof above the spot where Jesus was teaching in His own home, is healed, both from his sins and his inability to walk.
The sequence of my thoughts as I read it this morning had to do with the healed man himself. Since there is no dialog from either him or his friends in this narrative, what had gone on before to get them to this point?
Who had heard of the arrival of Jesus in this city? Who had initiated the plan to carry this man to where He was? Did one of the men get the idea that maybe their friend on the bed could be healed and get the other three together to carry him there? Did the man himself ask them to do it or did he just agree to be carried there? What was the anticipation of the five men as they hurried to the house and, what was their disappointment when the house was so full that they could not even get close to the Master? Who came up with the plan to use a hole in the roof to get the man down to Jesus? What were the feelings of the man as he was lowered to the floor below?
The emotions of the man who was paralyzed must have been a roller coaster. Hearing that Jesus was in town, formulation of a plan to get where He was staying, the anticipation while being carried there, the realization that he could not get close, the new plan using the roof, the lowering to the floor, then the words, "Son your sins are forgiven". What must he have thought then? After all the action that he and the other four men had been through, now was he just a passive participant in a greater story?
The religious leaders then question Jesus' words, and Jesus answers their doubting minds with another question, one that they had not thought of; "Why doubt, which is easier, to forgive sin, or to heal? Just so you will know what the Son of Man is about, I'll do both." Then, as the man on the bed looked from Jesus to the scribes and back again, Jesus told him to get up and go home. As the man heard this, he must have felt the strength returning to his legs, and he obeyed, no doubt an amazed and happy man.
This is a great story, a problem solved, a miracle healing, an amazed crowd, and five happy men, but why did it all happen? Probably not for me to just speculate about, and probably not for the shock effect in that room that day.
Back toward the first of the story, Mark writes that Jesus saw their faith. The faith of the four who lowered and the faith of the man on the pallet. The faith that Jesus could do something in this situation. They took a risk of being hooted out of the place and forever ridiculed for their actions. They were desperate for a miracle, and so they all acted. Their faith had made the miracle of a changed life possible.
What kind of faith do I have? Will I attempt to do some God sized things, actions that I can take that I can't possibly do on my own? Will I take a risk of failure to follow where God is leading?
The men in the story were committed to the job in front of them. They were "all in". The question for me becomes the same: Am I?
There are areas in my life where I need to be fully committed: at home, at church, in the prison and just living life in the world. Half-hearted, 'just to look good' efforts are not enough. My faith does not manifest itself in my ability to see the challenges, it is how I carry them out that matters.
Recognition, then commitment, then action, all leading to a "Well done good and faithful servant", That is where I want to go.
A man, a paralytic, lowered down from a roof above the spot where Jesus was teaching in His own home, is healed, both from his sins and his inability to walk.
The sequence of my thoughts as I read it this morning had to do with the healed man himself. Since there is no dialog from either him or his friends in this narrative, what had gone on before to get them to this point?
Who had heard of the arrival of Jesus in this city? Who had initiated the plan to carry this man to where He was? Did one of the men get the idea that maybe their friend on the bed could be healed and get the other three together to carry him there? Did the man himself ask them to do it or did he just agree to be carried there? What was the anticipation of the five men as they hurried to the house and, what was their disappointment when the house was so full that they could not even get close to the Master? Who came up with the plan to use a hole in the roof to get the man down to Jesus? What were the feelings of the man as he was lowered to the floor below?
The emotions of the man who was paralyzed must have been a roller coaster. Hearing that Jesus was in town, formulation of a plan to get where He was staying, the anticipation while being carried there, the realization that he could not get close, the new plan using the roof, the lowering to the floor, then the words, "Son your sins are forgiven". What must he have thought then? After all the action that he and the other four men had been through, now was he just a passive participant in a greater story?
The religious leaders then question Jesus' words, and Jesus answers their doubting minds with another question, one that they had not thought of; "Why doubt, which is easier, to forgive sin, or to heal? Just so you will know what the Son of Man is about, I'll do both." Then, as the man on the bed looked from Jesus to the scribes and back again, Jesus told him to get up and go home. As the man heard this, he must have felt the strength returning to his legs, and he obeyed, no doubt an amazed and happy man.
This is a great story, a problem solved, a miracle healing, an amazed crowd, and five happy men, but why did it all happen? Probably not for me to just speculate about, and probably not for the shock effect in that room that day.
Back toward the first of the story, Mark writes that Jesus saw their faith. The faith of the four who lowered and the faith of the man on the pallet. The faith that Jesus could do something in this situation. They took a risk of being hooted out of the place and forever ridiculed for their actions. They were desperate for a miracle, and so they all acted. Their faith had made the miracle of a changed life possible.
What kind of faith do I have? Will I attempt to do some God sized things, actions that I can take that I can't possibly do on my own? Will I take a risk of failure to follow where God is leading?
The men in the story were committed to the job in front of them. They were "all in". The question for me becomes the same: Am I?
There are areas in my life where I need to be fully committed: at home, at church, in the prison and just living life in the world. Half-hearted, 'just to look good' efforts are not enough. My faith does not manifest itself in my ability to see the challenges, it is how I carry them out that matters.
Recognition, then commitment, then action, all leading to a "Well done good and faithful servant", That is where I want to go.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Seriously?
Jesus, after having been in a town and healing and preaching and casting out demons, needed a time alone with His Father, so He got up early in the morning and went out into a desolate place, to pray.
Now I am not a morning person, per se, but I can see the advantage to this time of study, prayer and meditation. The days that I do get up early, even if I have an 7AM appointment, to spend this time away from the distractions of the day, allow me to concentrate on what the Scripture reading for the day has to say to me. It allows me to focus on my relationship with God, and try to connect with Him. In short, I try to make that time a priority, and, when I do, I find that my day has more meaning and purpose. It also gives me things to think about as the day goes on, and align my life to what I have sensed in the early morning hours.
Sometimes I think it is just my availability to come and sit that makes the difference in my day. I believe that God blesses the effort, and, even when I know the outcome is not up to me, I still feel good about being here.
God's blessings are not caused by my performance, but I can't help feeling that God is pleased when I take Him seriously.
Now I am not a morning person, per se, but I can see the advantage to this time of study, prayer and meditation. The days that I do get up early, even if I have an 7AM appointment, to spend this time away from the distractions of the day, allow me to concentrate on what the Scripture reading for the day has to say to me. It allows me to focus on my relationship with God, and try to connect with Him. In short, I try to make that time a priority, and, when I do, I find that my day has more meaning and purpose. It also gives me things to think about as the day goes on, and align my life to what I have sensed in the early morning hours.
Sometimes I think it is just my availability to come and sit that makes the difference in my day. I believe that God blesses the effort, and, even when I know the outcome is not up to me, I still feel good about being here.
God's blessings are not caused by my performance, but I can't help feeling that God is pleased when I take Him seriously.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
What in the World Do Some Dreams Mean?
Sometime before waking up this morning, a dream flitted through my head, and I had it on my mind as I came to the Scripture study. In this dream, some person passed by where I was sitting and told me to wait right there, insinuating that they would come back to see me about something. Then I woke up and wondered what that was all about.
Then comes the Scripture passage from Mark chapter 1 where Jesus calls the first four of his disciples. The words He uses to call them are familiar ones, "Follow Me".
Can I put these two things together to see a picture of what Jesus wants me to do today, and not only today but from now on? Do I sit and wait for someone to come to me and tell me what to do, or do I just follow on with an immediate response? When a person says "wait" do I hesitate to obey the "follow" call?
That reminds me of another dream I had recently that seemed a little more straight forward, I was following a Man, could only see His back, and He was wearing a long robe. At least in that one I was obeying the call and not trying to decide.
And then there is one further question, "Do dreams have any meaning anyway"?
Then comes the Scripture passage from Mark chapter 1 where Jesus calls the first four of his disciples. The words He uses to call them are familiar ones, "Follow Me".
Can I put these two things together to see a picture of what Jesus wants me to do today, and not only today but from now on? Do I sit and wait for someone to come to me and tell me what to do, or do I just follow on with an immediate response? When a person says "wait" do I hesitate to obey the "follow" call?
That reminds me of another dream I had recently that seemed a little more straight forward, I was following a Man, could only see His back, and He was wearing a long robe. At least in that one I was obeying the call and not trying to decide.
And then there is one further question, "Do dreams have any meaning anyway"?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Words, Again Today
Several things are jumping out at me from this Scripture in Mark chapter one.
wilderness
preparation
voice
affirmation
angels ministering
My first thought as I relate to this Scripture on this morning is to equate the wilderness, the one that John was preaching in, to the prison that I will be going into in a couple of weeks time. In all of the meetings this Kairos team has had, the fact has been pointed out that this prison, this time around, is not the same place I have gone into before. It has been a year since I went in, and the environment has changed, and not for the better.
Not only is the prison different this time, but our team is different, comprised of a bunch of new guys that have not gone in before, my talk is different, my role is different and there is a distinctly new feel to the whole weekend. In short, it is a new game.
So how does all of this difference make me think about the role God wants me to play? The word preparation holds one of the keys to a successful mission. I need to prepare much differently than I have done in the past. Sometimes I have a tendency to wing it since I have done it so many times in the past, but that will not cut it this time around. Preparation in material, but most of all preparation in time with God and in prayer. That is the voice that I need to hear.
When the doors clang shut on Thursday afternoon, and on each successive morning of the weekend, we will need the angels of God ministering to us and for us on our behalf. God will go before us and prepare the hearts of those men that will come in to be with us on those four days, but I need help with my role to make it the time for the inmates that God wants them to have.
Finally, I want to hear from the inmates, at the end of the weekend, that God has blessed them in mighty ways, that they are different on Sunday afternoon than they were on Thursday night. That will be the affirmation that we all seek:
"You are my son and I am well pleased with what you have done".
Oh, that it may be so.
wilderness
preparation
voice
affirmation
angels ministering
My first thought as I relate to this Scripture on this morning is to equate the wilderness, the one that John was preaching in, to the prison that I will be going into in a couple of weeks time. In all of the meetings this Kairos team has had, the fact has been pointed out that this prison, this time around, is not the same place I have gone into before. It has been a year since I went in, and the environment has changed, and not for the better.
Not only is the prison different this time, but our team is different, comprised of a bunch of new guys that have not gone in before, my talk is different, my role is different and there is a distinctly new feel to the whole weekend. In short, it is a new game.
So how does all of this difference make me think about the role God wants me to play? The word preparation holds one of the keys to a successful mission. I need to prepare much differently than I have done in the past. Sometimes I have a tendency to wing it since I have done it so many times in the past, but that will not cut it this time around. Preparation in material, but most of all preparation in time with God and in prayer. That is the voice that I need to hear.
When the doors clang shut on Thursday afternoon, and on each successive morning of the weekend, we will need the angels of God ministering to us and for us on our behalf. God will go before us and prepare the hearts of those men that will come in to be with us on those four days, but I need help with my role to make it the time for the inmates that God wants them to have.
Finally, I want to hear from the inmates, at the end of the weekend, that God has blessed them in mighty ways, that they are different on Sunday afternoon than they were on Thursday night. That will be the affirmation that we all seek:
"You are my son and I am well pleased with what you have done".
Oh, that it may be so.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Words Fitly Spoken (or Written)
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight"
"Sticks and stones my break my bones but words can never harm me."
"Think before you speak."
Words are important. They convey our feelings to others. They can bring life and happiness, and they can bring sorrow and hurt.
I find, too late in a lot of cases, that the less I speak the better off I am. That silence keeps me out of a heap of trouble, and does not let me show my ignorance quite so openly.
Jesus told the people that the words that He spoke to them came from His Father, and they had the authority of God the Father behind them. They could be trusted and they were true. Oh, that mine were the same and wore that mantle of truth and blessing.
Words, spoken or written, carry weight and they linger long in the minds of those who hear. Sometimes I want to take them back immediately, but cannot, so perhaps the best idea is "be careful and think first, opening my mouth only as a last resort".
Pleasing to God and helpful to man, now that is what I would like for my words to be.
"Sticks and stones my break my bones but words can never harm me."
"Think before you speak."
Words are important. They convey our feelings to others. They can bring life and happiness, and they can bring sorrow and hurt.
I find, too late in a lot of cases, that the less I speak the better off I am. That silence keeps me out of a heap of trouble, and does not let me show my ignorance quite so openly.
Jesus told the people that the words that He spoke to them came from His Father, and they had the authority of God the Father behind them. They could be trusted and they were true. Oh, that mine were the same and wore that mantle of truth and blessing.
Words, spoken or written, carry weight and they linger long in the minds of those who hear. Sometimes I want to take them back immediately, but cannot, so perhaps the best idea is "be careful and think first, opening my mouth only as a last resort".
Pleasing to God and helpful to man, now that is what I would like for my words to be.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Unity of Voice
Oneness is the word for today. The passage in John 17 speaks of the Oneness of God and Jesus, the Oneness of the disciples with Jesus, and is Jesus' prayer for all who come after, the ones that believe in the words that the disciples write and speak down through time.
It is no wonder that people in the world are confused. People who claim to be Christians speak with many voices, and there is no unity in what they speak. Man made agendas are rampant, and the voice of God is pushed to the background. Self glorification is the norm, and service for God's glory is no true service at all.
I am going to a prison ministry meeting this morning. These meetings, leading up to the four day weekend that we will spend with the inmates at Ware State Prison, have as their purpose the molding of hearts and minds into a unified purpose, so that only one voice will be heard by the participants there in prison, and that voice is that of God Himself.
How can I be a part of that Oneness? The only way that I can see is to try to keep close to God and His Word, taking the time to listen for His voice.
Oh God, don't let me sow confusion in others by the words that I speak or write. Let me speak the words of truth, and if I am unsure, let me keep my mouth shut.
It is no wonder that people in the world are confused. People who claim to be Christians speak with many voices, and there is no unity in what they speak. Man made agendas are rampant, and the voice of God is pushed to the background. Self glorification is the norm, and service for God's glory is no true service at all.
I am going to a prison ministry meeting this morning. These meetings, leading up to the four day weekend that we will spend with the inmates at Ware State Prison, have as their purpose the molding of hearts and minds into a unified purpose, so that only one voice will be heard by the participants there in prison, and that voice is that of God Himself.
How can I be a part of that Oneness? The only way that I can see is to try to keep close to God and His Word, taking the time to listen for His voice.
Oh God, don't let me sow confusion in others by the words that I speak or write. Let me speak the words of truth, and if I am unsure, let me keep my mouth shut.
Friday, February 17, 2012
An Eclectic Reading List
I am thinking this morning, as I read the passage for today, of the whole area of truth. How to find it, who to trust for its message, and its importance in my life. I'm sure a lot of the thought comes from the series, The Truth Project, that Mayre Lou and I help to facilitate for our church, but the word "Truth" seems to intrude on my thoughts more and more over time.
The verses for today, in John 17: 9-19, end with Jesus statement about being "sanctified in the truth", and I wonder what it means.
Two books have become my reading companions over the past few days. One is Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas and Tim Keller, and the other is Just Another Buddhist-Christian, by Don Randall. This may seem like an unusual combination, but maybe they are not, because to me, they both center on a search for truth.
Bonhoeffer, was a German pastor, killed in prison by the Nazis at the end of WWII. He was an intellectually gifted man whose life was characterized by a hunger for, and a search for, the truth as revealed by God. His search majored on Scripture, but was augmented by studies with some of the most gifted theologians of his day, both in Germany and elsewhere.
Don Randall, on the other hand, is a man that I know personally. He and I have conversed over the past few years over the truths of the Bible. and his book is a personal journey of searching for truth. He is a psychologist by profession, and his search covers the trip from traditional Christian to where he sees himself today. He is a student of philosophy, and has been active in the Jesus Seminar movement, as well as studying other philosophies and authors down through the years.
On the surface, these two men have little in common, except for their individual search for truth. Both grew up in a Christian tradition, but one went toward the liberal side and the other toward the conservative side. Both were intellectual in their makeup, but they reached far different conclusions. Both are persuasive in their writing and in their journeys of discovery. One is the more famous, but does that make his search more impressive and command more weight?
Why does one book resonate with me more than the other regarding the truth issue? Is it because of my upbringing and my own personal bent toward the more conservative side? Have I just put myself in the place where I hear the voices of fundamental Christianity and tune out any deviations from this norm? Is it because I am not as intellectually gifted as some others and don't take the time to study all of these other philosophies? Is the culture that I surround myself with not conducive to open discussion of other ideas?
Where I am today is the result of a lot of choices that I have made over the years, and that includes all of the above questions and the answers to them, but it is also where I feel God has led. If I must hang my hat somewhere it will be with Him and in His Word.
The verses for today, in John 17: 9-19, end with Jesus statement about being "sanctified in the truth", and I wonder what it means.
Two books have become my reading companions over the past few days. One is Bonhoeffer, by Eric Metaxas and Tim Keller, and the other is Just Another Buddhist-Christian, by Don Randall. This may seem like an unusual combination, but maybe they are not, because to me, they both center on a search for truth.
Bonhoeffer, was a German pastor, killed in prison by the Nazis at the end of WWII. He was an intellectually gifted man whose life was characterized by a hunger for, and a search for, the truth as revealed by God. His search majored on Scripture, but was augmented by studies with some of the most gifted theologians of his day, both in Germany and elsewhere.
Don Randall, on the other hand, is a man that I know personally. He and I have conversed over the past few years over the truths of the Bible. and his book is a personal journey of searching for truth. He is a psychologist by profession, and his search covers the trip from traditional Christian to where he sees himself today. He is a student of philosophy, and has been active in the Jesus Seminar movement, as well as studying other philosophies and authors down through the years.
On the surface, these two men have little in common, except for their individual search for truth. Both grew up in a Christian tradition, but one went toward the liberal side and the other toward the conservative side. Both were intellectual in their makeup, but they reached far different conclusions. Both are persuasive in their writing and in their journeys of discovery. One is the more famous, but does that make his search more impressive and command more weight?
Why does one book resonate with me more than the other regarding the truth issue? Is it because of my upbringing and my own personal bent toward the more conservative side? Have I just put myself in the place where I hear the voices of fundamental Christianity and tune out any deviations from this norm? Is it because I am not as intellectually gifted as some others and don't take the time to study all of these other philosophies? Is the culture that I surround myself with not conducive to open discussion of other ideas?
Where I am today is the result of a lot of choices that I have made over the years, and that includes all of the above questions and the answers to them, but it is also where I feel God has led. If I must hang my hat somewhere it will be with Him and in His Word.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Knowing
The old question resurfaces again, "Do I really know God?" really?
Jesus says in His prayer in John 17, "This is eternal life, that men know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent into the world."
Rom 11:34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
1Co 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
I hear people say sometimes, that God showed me this, or God spoke to me about this, or God led me in this way or that, and I am envious of their "knowing God" in this way. Sometimes I do not think I know Him at all. Oh, it is true that after something has happened, I realize that God has put me in that place, or even when I get a strong feeling that something ought to be done about this or in a definite way, but I do not live with that knowledge on an everyday basis.
The Bible says that we cannot know the mind of God, but we have the mind of Christ in us as Christians. It is true that we cannot fathom the ways of God, the events in their sequence, or the reasons behind them, but does this mean that the Holy Spirit can show us the way to live through each situation and give us the mind of Christ so that we would live and respond as He would?
Is that "Knowing God"?
I confess that I want something more than the occasional encounter with God, I want to live my life in the knowledge of His will for my life, each day and every day. My study time in the morning, on the days that I actually do it, is an attempt in that direction. The blog is another.
Know the truth and the truth will set you free. Jesus said that He is the Truth, and He is the One that I want to know.
Help!
Jesus says in His prayer in John 17, "This is eternal life, that men know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the One you sent into the world."
Rom 11:34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?
1Co 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ.
I hear people say sometimes, that God showed me this, or God spoke to me about this, or God led me in this way or that, and I am envious of their "knowing God" in this way. Sometimes I do not think I know Him at all. Oh, it is true that after something has happened, I realize that God has put me in that place, or even when I get a strong feeling that something ought to be done about this or in a definite way, but I do not live with that knowledge on an everyday basis.
The Bible says that we cannot know the mind of God, but we have the mind of Christ in us as Christians. It is true that we cannot fathom the ways of God, the events in their sequence, or the reasons behind them, but does this mean that the Holy Spirit can show us the way to live through each situation and give us the mind of Christ so that we would live and respond as He would?
Is that "Knowing God"?
I confess that I want something more than the occasional encounter with God, I want to live my life in the knowledge of His will for my life, each day and every day. My study time in the morning, on the days that I actually do it, is an attempt in that direction. The blog is another.
Know the truth and the truth will set you free. Jesus said that He is the Truth, and He is the One that I want to know.
Help!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Warning, a Slick Path
Jesus tells the crowd this parable, the one about the Pharisee and the tax collector, from Luke 18: 9-14.
On the surface this seems an easy one for me to relate to. Jesus berates the Pharisee for his self righteous and haughty attitude. Not only does he stand out in the crowd in the temple, praying, but it seems in his heart he actually believes and lives like what he prays is really true. Here is a man that knows for sure that he is better than most, especially the tax collector, that notorious sinner, who prays that God might please have mercy on him.
The religious leader is proud of who he is and what he has become. He sees men look to him for guidance, to make way for him in the streets, and, in short, to treat him like he is, indeed, better than most. He feels he actually deserves the praise of the people, because of his position, his learning and his wisdom. He puts himself in positions and places where people can see him for what he thinks he is and praise him for it.
On the other hand, there is the tax collector, a man despised by the people of Israel for his job of taking their money, as much as he can, they think, and handing it over to the power that ruled over them. They think him a greedy traitor, the worst of sinners, because of his service for an ungodly power, taking money from God's own people so that Rome can use it in a most unholy way.
Both of these men seem to agree with the people's assessment of their position and their worth. The Pharisee is glad to agree with his place in the eyes of the crowd, he knows them to be right, and the IRS man must feel like he is stuck with what the people have given him. The main difference is that the tax man does not accept the people's judgment as final. He knows what the people think, but trusts God to be the ultimate judge of his worth. The tax collector asks for mercy while the religious leader asks for confirmation.
Both of these men seemed to know their own heart. They knew their position before the people, and probably translated that to their position before a Holy God. The difference in the two was in their acceptance of this place, the Pharisee was grateful and the publican was repentant.
People around me come up and give me an assessment of my place among them, the problem comes in my acceptance of that place if it is a good one. Much better to take that with a grain of salt and rely on God's.
The praise of men is a very slippery slope.
On the surface this seems an easy one for me to relate to. Jesus berates the Pharisee for his self righteous and haughty attitude. Not only does he stand out in the crowd in the temple, praying, but it seems in his heart he actually believes and lives like what he prays is really true. Here is a man that knows for sure that he is better than most, especially the tax collector, that notorious sinner, who prays that God might please have mercy on him.
The religious leader is proud of who he is and what he has become. He sees men look to him for guidance, to make way for him in the streets, and, in short, to treat him like he is, indeed, better than most. He feels he actually deserves the praise of the people, because of his position, his learning and his wisdom. He puts himself in positions and places where people can see him for what he thinks he is and praise him for it.
On the other hand, there is the tax collector, a man despised by the people of Israel for his job of taking their money, as much as he can, they think, and handing it over to the power that ruled over them. They think him a greedy traitor, the worst of sinners, because of his service for an ungodly power, taking money from God's own people so that Rome can use it in a most unholy way.
Both of these men seem to agree with the people's assessment of their position and their worth. The Pharisee is glad to agree with his place in the eyes of the crowd, he knows them to be right, and the IRS man must feel like he is stuck with what the people have given him. The main difference is that the tax man does not accept the people's judgment as final. He knows what the people think, but trusts God to be the ultimate judge of his worth. The tax collector asks for mercy while the religious leader asks for confirmation.
Both of these men seemed to know their own heart. They knew their position before the people, and probably translated that to their position before a Holy God. The difference in the two was in their acceptance of this place, the Pharisee was grateful and the publican was repentant.
People around me come up and give me an assessment of my place among them, the problem comes in my acceptance of that place if it is a good one. Much better to take that with a grain of salt and rely on God's.
The praise of men is a very slippery slope.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Stones
I sat down this morning, read the Scripture about Jesus appearing before Pilate and the whole question of "What is Truth" and just could not get into it at all.
I thought about everything and nothing at the same time. The only thing that kept running through my mind was the John Denver song "Some Days are Diamonds, some days are stones. I even pulled it up on YouTube and played it a couple of times. Check it out.
Then I left to make a breakfast appointment, went by the church to take care of a couple of things and leave some coffee supplies, came home, changed clothes and went to play tennis.
Now I'm home from that but getting ready to meet a friend for lunch.
So, this is a "stone" day, and I'm a complete bust. I even lost at tennis, so it all seems to fit together. It's also Valentines Day and my wife said "don't get anything not even a card" and I did that, probably a mistake, right?
I'll slog through the day and do better tomorrow. I know deep down that God is here even on these days, it is just harder for me to get in touch.
I thought about everything and nothing at the same time. The only thing that kept running through my mind was the John Denver song "Some Days are Diamonds, some days are stones. I even pulled it up on YouTube and played it a couple of times. Check it out.
Then I left to make a breakfast appointment, went by the church to take care of a couple of things and leave some coffee supplies, came home, changed clothes and went to play tennis.
Now I'm home from that but getting ready to meet a friend for lunch.
So, this is a "stone" day, and I'm a complete bust. I even lost at tennis, so it all seems to fit together. It's also Valentines Day and my wife said "don't get anything not even a card" and I did that, probably a mistake, right?
I'll slog through the day and do better tomorrow. I know deep down that God is here even on these days, it is just harder for me to get in touch.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Blood Brothers
Are Peter and I brothers? Are we cut from the same cloth?
Peter was in the Garden with Jesus and the other disciples when the temple guard came to arrest Him. Most of the others scattered when Jesus was hauled off to the high priest, but it looks like two of them followed along with the crowd.
Peter's denial of even knowing Jesus is well known. Three times he said he did not know Him, and then remembered what Jesus had foretold and went out and wept because of his shame over his refusal to acknowledge his Master. Peter, who had tried to defend Jesus against arrest with his sword, and who had at least the courage to follow the crowd into the courtyard of the high priest, then caved under the questions of the servant girl and the soldiers.
This same Peter who had seen the miracles of Jesus, the healings, the feeding of the masses, and who had heard His words for the whole ministry time; the disciple who had told Jesus that he and the other eleven could not go away like the crowd because only Jesus had the words of life, ran for cover.
Next month I have a talk to make at Kairos, to the men in Ware State Prison, in which I talk about choices. Choices that have been made in the past, choices that need to be made in the present, and the consequences of the present ones on the future. All of the men that I will speak to on that day have made choices that landed them in that incarcerated spot. Bad choices have bad consequences, and we all reap rewards for the bad ones we each have made.
But the message of the talk, and the message that comes from the story of Peter's denial of Christ, is one of the possibility of forgiveness and a new beginning. Peter repented, sorrowfully, and was restored by Jesus after the resurrection, no doubt after many hours of misery and shame and uncertainty.
In the talk, a statistic is given that those of us on the outside of the prison walls have about 225 choices to make in a given day. Some are simple like what kind of cereal to have for breakfast, but some may be profound like a denial of Jesus. Will I notice them when them come, and then how will I choose to respond.
I realize that I can be forgiven for bad choices, if I truly repent of them, but would it not be so much better to make the right ones in the first place?
Peter and I-----blood brothers.
Yep
Peter was in the Garden with Jesus and the other disciples when the temple guard came to arrest Him. Most of the others scattered when Jesus was hauled off to the high priest, but it looks like two of them followed along with the crowd.
Peter's denial of even knowing Jesus is well known. Three times he said he did not know Him, and then remembered what Jesus had foretold and went out and wept because of his shame over his refusal to acknowledge his Master. Peter, who had tried to defend Jesus against arrest with his sword, and who had at least the courage to follow the crowd into the courtyard of the high priest, then caved under the questions of the servant girl and the soldiers.
This same Peter who had seen the miracles of Jesus, the healings, the feeding of the masses, and who had heard His words for the whole ministry time; the disciple who had told Jesus that he and the other eleven could not go away like the crowd because only Jesus had the words of life, ran for cover.
Next month I have a talk to make at Kairos, to the men in Ware State Prison, in which I talk about choices. Choices that have been made in the past, choices that need to be made in the present, and the consequences of the present ones on the future. All of the men that I will speak to on that day have made choices that landed them in that incarcerated spot. Bad choices have bad consequences, and we all reap rewards for the bad ones we each have made.
But the message of the talk, and the message that comes from the story of Peter's denial of Christ, is one of the possibility of forgiveness and a new beginning. Peter repented, sorrowfully, and was restored by Jesus after the resurrection, no doubt after many hours of misery and shame and uncertainty.
In the talk, a statistic is given that those of us on the outside of the prison walls have about 225 choices to make in a given day. Some are simple like what kind of cereal to have for breakfast, but some may be profound like a denial of Jesus. Will I notice them when them come, and then how will I choose to respond.
I realize that I can be forgiven for bad choices, if I truly repent of them, but would it not be so much better to make the right ones in the first place?
Peter and I-----blood brothers.
Yep
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Honor
Honor, what is it and how do I show it?
The dictionary has quite a long definition of the word honor. It is used in a variety of ways. There is that respect given to a person, there is a place of honor, a honorable profession, and even honor among thieves.
The Bible has a lot of verses about honor. Honor thy parents, honor all men, honor God with your first fruits, plus many more.
So, who do I honor, and how do I do it? Is my life one of honor or dishonor?
That word was used in the Scripture for today in John 8:47-59. Jesus says that He honors His Father, but the people of His time dishonor Him.
Do I honor God, the men over me in government, my sports heroes, my wife, children, neighbors, fellow church members and friends? Do I also honor the man drunk in the gutter, or the homeless woman asleep on a bench down by the ocean?
Do I show respect to all men, regardless of station, not by placing them on man-made pedestals, but by treating them as human beings with worth?
Do I show honor to a job or a position by performing in that area with all my abilities and not to just get by or look good?
Do I show honor to my Creator by honoring all His creation?
Do I live a life of honor, one of integrity, or do I bring dishonor on my God by my actions and words? Am I even conscious of the import of these things I do and say each day?
I can judge myself on my life of honor, others around me can also, both those that know me and those who only see me, but the One who judges with certainty, what will He say?
Woe is me.
The dictionary has quite a long definition of the word honor. It is used in a variety of ways. There is that respect given to a person, there is a place of honor, a honorable profession, and even honor among thieves.
The Bible has a lot of verses about honor. Honor thy parents, honor all men, honor God with your first fruits, plus many more.
So, who do I honor, and how do I do it? Is my life one of honor or dishonor?
That word was used in the Scripture for today in John 8:47-59. Jesus says that He honors His Father, but the people of His time dishonor Him.
Do I honor God, the men over me in government, my sports heroes, my wife, children, neighbors, fellow church members and friends? Do I also honor the man drunk in the gutter, or the homeless woman asleep on a bench down by the ocean?
Do I show respect to all men, regardless of station, not by placing them on man-made pedestals, but by treating them as human beings with worth?
Do I show honor to a job or a position by performing in that area with all my abilities and not to just get by or look good?
Do I show honor to my Creator by honoring all His creation?
Do I live a life of honor, one of integrity, or do I bring dishonor on my God by my actions and words? Am I even conscious of the import of these things I do and say each day?
I can judge myself on my life of honor, others around me can also, both those that know me and those who only see me, but the One who judges with certainty, what will He say?
Woe is me.
Friday, February 10, 2012
I Need a Loaf Today
At the end of each of my (almost) daily sessions contemplating on a section of Scripture, the words of The Lord's Prayer come up on the computer screen. They are meant for me to end the session, keeping the words of the morning reading before me throughout the day.
I think of the phrase "Give me this day, my daily bread", or, as I often rephrase it, "give me today what I need to live for You in this day in front of me".
These words are oh so familiar and maybe too familiar. They are easy to repeat without thinking. I ask for bread for strength, when I know there is food in the fridge and the kitchen cabinets that will give me some of the physical strength that my body needs. I even know that the bread that I truly need is that scriptural bread that comes from the Word of God, but I read it early, just a few verses, and then it is gone from my conscious life for the rest of the hours.
I see my schedule for today. I plan to golf with three of my friends from church, then come back home in the afternoon and get ready for a dinner out with another couple from our church. What is there to need? It seems like a straight forward day, one that I have lived before, so where is the need for that prayer? Am I so comfortable with my life that my prayer is merely for show and not for any felt need? Will my life be one of no meaning if God does not show up to give me His strength and guidance? Do I even want God to show up and mess up my plans? The day sounds perfect as it is, so .....
Even if I sit here and pray that prayer with the sincere conviction that this day will not be complete without God, and then promptly forget it, what has that really meant? Who am I fooling? Surely not God, most likely myself.
I sing, "One day at a time, sweet Jesus" with gusto, and then plan my perfect life. I say that I have stored up plenty of stuff for the days ahead, all will be OK, but will it?
There are plenty of people in this world who pray, no, who plead, for God to give them what they need for this day, because they don't know how they might make it through one more time, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.
God, don't let my only real prayer be that of gratefulness for the barns with the stuff in them, but give me the "bread" that I really need for today.
Jesus, the Bread of Life
I think of the phrase "Give me this day, my daily bread", or, as I often rephrase it, "give me today what I need to live for You in this day in front of me".
These words are oh so familiar and maybe too familiar. They are easy to repeat without thinking. I ask for bread for strength, when I know there is food in the fridge and the kitchen cabinets that will give me some of the physical strength that my body needs. I even know that the bread that I truly need is that scriptural bread that comes from the Word of God, but I read it early, just a few verses, and then it is gone from my conscious life for the rest of the hours.
I see my schedule for today. I plan to golf with three of my friends from church, then come back home in the afternoon and get ready for a dinner out with another couple from our church. What is there to need? It seems like a straight forward day, one that I have lived before, so where is the need for that prayer? Am I so comfortable with my life that my prayer is merely for show and not for any felt need? Will my life be one of no meaning if God does not show up to give me His strength and guidance? Do I even want God to show up and mess up my plans? The day sounds perfect as it is, so .....
Even if I sit here and pray that prayer with the sincere conviction that this day will not be complete without God, and then promptly forget it, what has that really meant? Who am I fooling? Surely not God, most likely myself.
I sing, "One day at a time, sweet Jesus" with gusto, and then plan my perfect life. I say that I have stored up plenty of stuff for the days ahead, all will be OK, but will it?
There are plenty of people in this world who pray, no, who plead, for God to give them what they need for this day, because they don't know how they might make it through one more time, physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually.
God, don't let my only real prayer be that of gratefulness for the barns with the stuff in them, but give me the "bread" that I really need for today.
Jesus, the Bread of Life
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Voices
Jesus says in John 18:37 that He came into the world to testify to the truth. He says in John 14:6 that He is the truth. He says that truth is wrapped up in Him, and His words are the truth.
Deep down, each person wants to believe that what he believes is true, really true. I know I do, and I do not want to be led astray by anything and everything that is not.
There is a constant clamor of voices around me. Voices from other people, voices that speak from the newspaper, from books that I read, from the Internet, voices on the radio and the TV. All of these purport to speak the truth, and most of the time, the ones that speak in any of these ways believe that what they speak is true. Sometimes, the percentage I would not know, those people, whose words I read or hear, deliberately seek to deceive, but the men and women who put out the stuff I look at or hear, for the most part, believe in what they say.
I have just finished reading a book about British involvement in the American Civil War. This book is 800 pages of facts, far too many for me to diligently research and ascertain if they are true. So I trust that the author has done her homework, and that what she presents as true history, is. It sounds right to me, so I make it my basis for this subject. Her conclusions become mine, until I chance to read another book that leads elsewhere, and then I am confused. The events that happened back in the 1860s, actually did happen, and they happened in a certain order, and for a certain purpose. From the vantage point of 150 years later, the "whys" of history are nebulous, but there is a truth there also. Two people researching this material may come up with different conclusions about these "whys", but at the time the event happened, there was a true reason.
So, if I want to know what is really true, in the history of the Civil War, in the current political scene, in science, in religion or any other area, what do I do?
The clamor of voices, whether written or spoken, is endless and loud at times. Do I listen to Nancy Pelosi or Rush Limbaugh? Who not only has the facts, but also the correct rendering of those same facts? I want to know who I can trust, not just who shouts the loudest.
Jesus tells those who listened to Him and believe in what He said in John 8:31, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".
Here is my trustworthy source, and He gives the truth of what matters.
Can I know the truth of 1862 England? Maybe not with certainty, but I can know that there is a truth out there. Something did happen, in some way, and for some concrete reason, it just may be hard to get to from a century and a half down the road.
This is one reason I like to get up early and look at what Jesus says. I trust His words, and abiding there gives me a perspective to look at the barrage of information and voices that will hit me later.
There is truth out there, and this is where I choose to begin my search today.
Deep down, each person wants to believe that what he believes is true, really true. I know I do, and I do not want to be led astray by anything and everything that is not.
There is a constant clamor of voices around me. Voices from other people, voices that speak from the newspaper, from books that I read, from the Internet, voices on the radio and the TV. All of these purport to speak the truth, and most of the time, the ones that speak in any of these ways believe that what they speak is true. Sometimes, the percentage I would not know, those people, whose words I read or hear, deliberately seek to deceive, but the men and women who put out the stuff I look at or hear, for the most part, believe in what they say.
I have just finished reading a book about British involvement in the American Civil War. This book is 800 pages of facts, far too many for me to diligently research and ascertain if they are true. So I trust that the author has done her homework, and that what she presents as true history, is. It sounds right to me, so I make it my basis for this subject. Her conclusions become mine, until I chance to read another book that leads elsewhere, and then I am confused. The events that happened back in the 1860s, actually did happen, and they happened in a certain order, and for a certain purpose. From the vantage point of 150 years later, the "whys" of history are nebulous, but there is a truth there also. Two people researching this material may come up with different conclusions about these "whys", but at the time the event happened, there was a true reason.
So, if I want to know what is really true, in the history of the Civil War, in the current political scene, in science, in religion or any other area, what do I do?
The clamor of voices, whether written or spoken, is endless and loud at times. Do I listen to Nancy Pelosi or Rush Limbaugh? Who not only has the facts, but also the correct rendering of those same facts? I want to know who I can trust, not just who shouts the loudest.
Jesus tells those who listened to Him and believe in what He said in John 8:31, "If you abide in My Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free".
Here is my trustworthy source, and He gives the truth of what matters.
Can I know the truth of 1862 England? Maybe not with certainty, but I can know that there is a truth out there. Something did happen, in some way, and for some concrete reason, it just may be hard to get to from a century and a half down the road.
This is one reason I like to get up early and look at what Jesus says. I trust His words, and abiding there gives me a perspective to look at the barrage of information and voices that will hit me later.
There is truth out there, and this is where I choose to begin my search today.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Word of the Day
Three separate ideas or themes bounce around in my mind this morning. Maybe if I put them on paper (or on the computer) they will begin to sort themselves out in some way.
1. The Scripture this morning is the incident in John 8 where the woman is brought to Jesus; the woman who has been caught in adultery. Jesus does not condemn her but tells her to go and sin no more.
2. A breakfast this morning with a brother who has struggled financially for the past 5 years, beginning with the housing bust and continuing till today. As it is for a lot of families today, the struggle is not just from earning and paying bills, but it is a struggle to realize that we cannot always do for ourselves, as men want to do, but have to wholly rely on God working in our situation to keep us. The struggle, to keep an optimistic outlook because we know that God is in control and that he will provide, is hard with no light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Then there is my struggle with church leadership. It is not so much that I do not want to be in that capacity, it is more the question in my heart, "Will I be able to hear God's voice and see His heart in the things that I am called upon to decide or direct or influence in some way?" "Am I capable to discern what might need to be done?"
Is there any common thread in these three?
1. If God calls us to a job, He will give us the means to accomplish it if we only ask and trust.
2. Having to trust in God and His provision builds our faith when He comes through again and again.
3. Jesus does not condemn us for our questions, but instead quietly tells us to go on trusting Him to show a better way to live.
Looks like the word of the day is TRUST and knowing the One to trust covers a multitude of situations. Now to do it.
1. The Scripture this morning is the incident in John 8 where the woman is brought to Jesus; the woman who has been caught in adultery. Jesus does not condemn her but tells her to go and sin no more.
2. A breakfast this morning with a brother who has struggled financially for the past 5 years, beginning with the housing bust and continuing till today. As it is for a lot of families today, the struggle is not just from earning and paying bills, but it is a struggle to realize that we cannot always do for ourselves, as men want to do, but have to wholly rely on God working in our situation to keep us. The struggle, to keep an optimistic outlook because we know that God is in control and that he will provide, is hard with no light at the end of the tunnel.
3. Then there is my struggle with church leadership. It is not so much that I do not want to be in that capacity, it is more the question in my heart, "Will I be able to hear God's voice and see His heart in the things that I am called upon to decide or direct or influence in some way?" "Am I capable to discern what might need to be done?"
Is there any common thread in these three?
1. If God calls us to a job, He will give us the means to accomplish it if we only ask and trust.
2. Having to trust in God and His provision builds our faith when He comes through again and again.
3. Jesus does not condemn us for our questions, but instead quietly tells us to go on trusting Him to show a better way to live.
Looks like the word of the day is TRUST and knowing the One to trust covers a multitude of situations. Now to do it.
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Nudge in the Right Direction
The story of Jesus and His dubious religious leaders continue with the leaders sending some of their temple guard to bring Jesus in for questioning. No doubt Jesus knew why they had come, but He was not intimidated, but continued to speak openly without fear of what they could do to Him.
The troops listened to the discourse between Jesus and the people in the temple and must have been blown away by what they heard. He talked like no one else and with the authority that He knew what He was talking about. They could not even fulfill their mission, but came back to the council empty handed. When the leaders asked why they had not obeyed their orders, the soldiers just said that this Man was different. His words rang with authority, and they were too awestruck to lay a hand on Him.
The Pharisees accused them of being fooled by Jesus. "No doubt this man speaks well and has a certain charisma, but He is a Galilean and we know that no future Messiah can come from up there. Forget Him and do your job."
Then Nicodemus spoke up and reminded them of the portion of the law that said that no man should be judged without a hearing, and maybe they ought to listen before making a judgment like that. But the leaders mocked him as well as the temple guard, by asking Nicodemus if he was a man of Galilee also. They told him that he should go back and see if it was not true that no prophet arises from up there.
Sometimes we give Nicodemus a hard time because he came to Jesus by night when it might not be noticed. But he came. He came to inquire of the Man who taught with such authority. Nicodemus knew authority when he encountered it. He was on the religious council, the body charged with the spiritual and moral upkeep of the Jews during that time of Roman occupation. As long as the land was somewhat peaceful, the Roman authorities let the Jewish people have some autonomy. Nicodemus took a risk, in that council, by even suggesting that the leaders might ought to take a second look at Jesus, rather than dismissing Him because of where they thought He came from.
Maybe God gave Nicodemus a little nudge even though he was surrounded by men that ranked higher on the spiritual ladder, at least from an earthly point of view. Could God be telling one man of that group that maybe they might be relying on what they thought rather than God's will? Would he be committing political suicide by questioning authority in this case?
Where and when do I need to stand up? In a church council of men that I consider much more spiritually astute than I? In a secular setting when there is an antagonistic attitude and speech about something religious? In a group where the name of Jesus is degraded?
If God gives me a check, I need to take a risk, regardless of the setting. My risk could be one of two things; the risk of my self image to those in which group I might be, or the risk of God's disappointment. No need to worry much about which is the most important in the long run, that is a given.
God, help me to stand when You lead, and keep my mouth shut when it is just me talking. Help me to know the difference.
The troops listened to the discourse between Jesus and the people in the temple and must have been blown away by what they heard. He talked like no one else and with the authority that He knew what He was talking about. They could not even fulfill their mission, but came back to the council empty handed. When the leaders asked why they had not obeyed their orders, the soldiers just said that this Man was different. His words rang with authority, and they were too awestruck to lay a hand on Him.
The Pharisees accused them of being fooled by Jesus. "No doubt this man speaks well and has a certain charisma, but He is a Galilean and we know that no future Messiah can come from up there. Forget Him and do your job."
Then Nicodemus spoke up and reminded them of the portion of the law that said that no man should be judged without a hearing, and maybe they ought to listen before making a judgment like that. But the leaders mocked him as well as the temple guard, by asking Nicodemus if he was a man of Galilee also. They told him that he should go back and see if it was not true that no prophet arises from up there.
Sometimes we give Nicodemus a hard time because he came to Jesus by night when it might not be noticed. But he came. He came to inquire of the Man who taught with such authority. Nicodemus knew authority when he encountered it. He was on the religious council, the body charged with the spiritual and moral upkeep of the Jews during that time of Roman occupation. As long as the land was somewhat peaceful, the Roman authorities let the Jewish people have some autonomy. Nicodemus took a risk, in that council, by even suggesting that the leaders might ought to take a second look at Jesus, rather than dismissing Him because of where they thought He came from.
Maybe God gave Nicodemus a little nudge even though he was surrounded by men that ranked higher on the spiritual ladder, at least from an earthly point of view. Could God be telling one man of that group that maybe they might be relying on what they thought rather than God's will? Would he be committing political suicide by questioning authority in this case?
Where and when do I need to stand up? In a church council of men that I consider much more spiritually astute than I? In a secular setting when there is an antagonistic attitude and speech about something religious? In a group where the name of Jesus is degraded?
If God gives me a check, I need to take a risk, regardless of the setting. My risk could be one of two things; the risk of my self image to those in which group I might be, or the risk of God's disappointment. No need to worry much about which is the most important in the long run, that is a given.
God, help me to stand when You lead, and keep my mouth shut when it is just me talking. Help me to know the difference.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Send Me Some Roys...
Jesus has a confrontation with the Jewish religious leaders in John 7. These same leaders are wondering about Jesus, they marvel at His teachings, they question where He came from and His purpose, and then they end of plotting to get rid of Him, not just shutting up His mouth, but making it permanent. They would call it justified because He spoke heresy, according to them, but it would be expedient murder on their part and for their reasons.
Maybe it is wrong not to think about Jesus statements to these men in this section of Scripture, but I am left considering the Pharisees and Saducees, and their role in all of this. Here was a group of well studied men, so protective of their own position in the Jewish nation, that they could not see past what seems obvious to us today. Of course we have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, as we read the Bible, but surely some of these men had a glimpse of who Jesus possibly was.
Were these religious leaders so bound up in tradition, in the things they had been taught, and in the judgment of the more powerful ones in their council, that they could not think independently? Were there not at least a few of them, that did more than follow the party line message? Tradition has it that both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, members of the ruling council, broke ranks and followed Jesus eventually. Were there others who were at least thinking and wondering about the whole affair?
If I had been one of those men back then, what would I have done? Of course, I think now, that I would have surely stood up and challenged the powerful men in that group, taking them to task about their refusal to even think about the possibility that Jesus might be what He claimed. Ho, Ho, would I really?
Even right now, as I live and study, do I even want to hear opinions that I don't agree with? Do I want to hear arguments for a certain position that seems wrong to me? Am I open to anyone, even God, asking me to rethink my ideas? Is my mind sealed, like the pre-Easter tomb, or can the stone be rolled away?
When I was involved in a men's group in Virginia, one man in the group of six was pretty liberal in his politics and other life positions. He brought ideas to me that I had not considered and taught me that all men of that persuasion were not just uniformed, but they did had points that I should consider. Now he did not change my mind a lot of times, but he is still one of the men that I try to get together with when we get back to Blacksburg. I wish he lived down here.
Dear God, help me to keep my mind open to You and to others who might speak for You and from You. Keep the stone rolled away, so that I might at least consider what they have to say, and lead me to fellowship with men that will challenge me to think and not just react.
Maybe it is wrong not to think about Jesus statements to these men in this section of Scripture, but I am left considering the Pharisees and Saducees, and their role in all of this. Here was a group of well studied men, so protective of their own position in the Jewish nation, that they could not see past what seems obvious to us today. Of course we have the advantage of 20/20 hindsight, as we read the Bible, but surely some of these men had a glimpse of who Jesus possibly was.
Were these religious leaders so bound up in tradition, in the things they had been taught, and in the judgment of the more powerful ones in their council, that they could not think independently? Were there not at least a few of them, that did more than follow the party line message? Tradition has it that both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, members of the ruling council, broke ranks and followed Jesus eventually. Were there others who were at least thinking and wondering about the whole affair?
If I had been one of those men back then, what would I have done? Of course, I think now, that I would have surely stood up and challenged the powerful men in that group, taking them to task about their refusal to even think about the possibility that Jesus might be what He claimed. Ho, Ho, would I really?
Even right now, as I live and study, do I even want to hear opinions that I don't agree with? Do I want to hear arguments for a certain position that seems wrong to me? Am I open to anyone, even God, asking me to rethink my ideas? Is my mind sealed, like the pre-Easter tomb, or can the stone be rolled away?
When I was involved in a men's group in Virginia, one man in the group of six was pretty liberal in his politics and other life positions. He brought ideas to me that I had not considered and taught me that all men of that persuasion were not just uniformed, but they did had points that I should consider. Now he did not change my mind a lot of times, but he is still one of the men that I try to get together with when we get back to Blacksburg. I wish he lived down here.
Dear God, help me to keep my mind open to You and to others who might speak for You and from You. Keep the stone rolled away, so that I might at least consider what they have to say, and lead me to fellowship with men that will challenge me to think and not just react.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Brothers to the End?
The story of the past few days continues in John 7. Jesus brothers, half brothers to be sure want Him to go down to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem, but He told them no.
Why did Jesus tell his half brothers that He was not going up to Jerusalem to this feast, when, in fact He did go, just not with them? Did He say this because He knew that they wanted to bask in His fame, such as it was, but did not believe in His words. Are we like that, wanting to appear to follow Him and support His work, but just wanting people to think we are His? His brothers did not know what associating with Jesus might mean in the long run, they just wanted to look for their 15 minutes of fame. They seemed to have wanted Him to push Himself forward so that He might gain more followers, but did not realize what they would mean. They could reap some personal benefits from this close association without truly believing in what He did and said, but be prepared to back away if it did not work out as they thought it might.
The brothers had seen the people in Galilee flocking around Jesus, some of these had become His disciples and met with Him continually, soaking up all His words. They may have been astonished when He told them that the world around them actually hated Him. All the people they saw held Jesus in high regard and, perhaps, they thought that if more people could actually see Him close up and hear the powerful, yet confusing , words that he said, he would gain more and more followers and become somebody in the whole country.
There was a real divide between Jesus and those He grew up with. He knew the whole story, all of the forces that were arrayed against Him, even in His own land. He knew His path and the times for accomplishing His purpose, they only saw His current fame.
Perhaps I am putting words and thoughts into His brothers, but the telling phrase in all this discourse, is the fact that they did not believe in Him, not really believe. They had heard His words and seen His miracles, but had not grasped the full intent of His mission. He was one of them, how could He be much different than they were? He was familiar, He has lived with us every day, what is there to believe?
But I see myself in the brother's shoes a lot of the time. It is nice to be around Christian people, even be a part of the Christian church, even be a leader in this church, but not be fully committed to Him, only coming along for the ride while the going is easy and profitable for me. I can look good in a Bible Belt society that honors, to some degree, such participation, but not give up much to do this, not even really know the person I say I follow.
Would the brothers want to stay around Jesus and reap His suffering when the way gets tough in Jerusalem, when to be know as His brothers might bring their death too? Will I?
Why did Jesus tell his half brothers that He was not going up to Jerusalem to this feast, when, in fact He did go, just not with them? Did He say this because He knew that they wanted to bask in His fame, such as it was, but did not believe in His words. Are we like that, wanting to appear to follow Him and support His work, but just wanting people to think we are His? His brothers did not know what associating with Jesus might mean in the long run, they just wanted to look for their 15 minutes of fame. They seemed to have wanted Him to push Himself forward so that He might gain more followers, but did not realize what they would mean. They could reap some personal benefits from this close association without truly believing in what He did and said, but be prepared to back away if it did not work out as they thought it might.
The brothers had seen the people in Galilee flocking around Jesus, some of these had become His disciples and met with Him continually, soaking up all His words. They may have been astonished when He told them that the world around them actually hated Him. All the people they saw held Jesus in high regard and, perhaps, they thought that if more people could actually see Him close up and hear the powerful, yet confusing , words that he said, he would gain more and more followers and become somebody in the whole country.
There was a real divide between Jesus and those He grew up with. He knew the whole story, all of the forces that were arrayed against Him, even in His own land. He knew His path and the times for accomplishing His purpose, they only saw His current fame.
Perhaps I am putting words and thoughts into His brothers, but the telling phrase in all this discourse, is the fact that they did not believe in Him, not really believe. They had heard His words and seen His miracles, but had not grasped the full intent of His mission. He was one of them, how could He be much different than they were? He was familiar, He has lived with us every day, what is there to believe?
But I see myself in the brother's shoes a lot of the time. It is nice to be around Christian people, even be a part of the Christian church, even be a leader in this church, but not be fully committed to Him, only coming along for the ride while the going is easy and profitable for me. I can look good in a Bible Belt society that honors, to some degree, such participation, but not give up much to do this, not even really know the person I say I follow.
Would the brothers want to stay around Jesus and reap His suffering when the way gets tough in Jerusalem, when to be know as His brothers might bring their death too? Will I?
Thursday, February 2, 2012
A General Question that Becomes Personal
Following up on the verses that I have read and written about the past few days, Jesus speaks with those who continue to stay close to Him to hear His words. Jesus knows the hearts of all those people, and knows the reasons each is still there. He also knows which do not actually believe what He is talking about, but are looking for something else. He hears their grumbling over not being able to understand, and so He gives them another thing to add to their questions as He talks about ascending back to heaven where He came from. Then He tells them that some of them do not believe and the reason is that they have not heard the call of God, but they follow for selfish reasons. After this many shook their heads and went home.
When I see that crowd around Jesus, I see people who have been physically fed, I see people who have seen healing and perhaps been healed themselves, and I see people who have heard someone speak words that moved them in some way. In short, I guess I see people today, and I see them all sitting in church on a Sunday morning, knowing that perhaps this Jesus is someone special, but not truly understanding all that He has to tell them.
The personal reasons why anyone chooses to identify with the Christian Church are many and varied, and all of us fall in that spectrum somewhere.
Then Jesus looked up at the crowd as they grumbled their way down the hill, heading for home, and spoke to the few remaining with Him, "Do you all want to get out of here also?"
Most had not found what they expected, and they had heard but not understood. It was too confusing and too hard to keep up their enthusiasm without seeing any result. So they hit the road, perhaps to wait for the next miracle worker to come along.
All of us are in that crowd of people, and we have to hear those words that ask, "Why do you remain with Me, when so many do not choose to do so?"
Are the reasons cultural, are they social, or are they because we have realized that the words of Jesus are the only ones that will bring us to God, and that is where we want to be?
The questions are not for the church in general, they are for me.
When I see that crowd around Jesus, I see people who have been physically fed, I see people who have seen healing and perhaps been healed themselves, and I see people who have heard someone speak words that moved them in some way. In short, I guess I see people today, and I see them all sitting in church on a Sunday morning, knowing that perhaps this Jesus is someone special, but not truly understanding all that He has to tell them.
The personal reasons why anyone chooses to identify with the Christian Church are many and varied, and all of us fall in that spectrum somewhere.
Then Jesus looked up at the crowd as they grumbled their way down the hill, heading for home, and spoke to the few remaining with Him, "Do you all want to get out of here also?"
Most had not found what they expected, and they had heard but not understood. It was too confusing and too hard to keep up their enthusiasm without seeing any result. So they hit the road, perhaps to wait for the next miracle worker to come along.
All of us are in that crowd of people, and we have to hear those words that ask, "Why do you remain with Me, when so many do not choose to do so?"
Are the reasons cultural, are they social, or are they because we have realized that the words of Jesus are the only ones that will bring us to God, and that is where we want to be?
The questions are not for the church in general, they are for me.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Shoes, Yours or Mine?
Most of us today, when we read the stories of the people interacting with Jesus in the Gospels, have a tendency to think that, if they did not believe on Him and understand the things that He was talking about, that they were a little dense. After all they could see Him, touch Him, listen to Him, be involved in the miracles He performed, and interact with Him and His disciples.
We can see how the story unfolds, and better understand the words and actions of Jesus, because we know how the it eventually plays out. We also have available the Spirit of God to help us in our study, and things look a bit different when we see the words on paper and have the opportunity to go back and read them again and again. Those other folk, from that first century era, had the words first hand, but then they were gone, replaced by other words. I remember how the disciples suddenly got a meaning from some words of Jesus as the events unfolded many days down the road. Then they understood.
So I think about how the people must have wondered at Jesus' words, on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, that come later in Chapter 6 of John. We can kind of understand what He is talking about from our vantage point, 2,000 years later, but they did not have this perspective. A lot of them probably just shook their heads and said "Hey, this guy is nuts, forget this!" In fact, toward the end of this same chapter it says that many people quit following Him. Even the disciples, those closest to Him wondered about what He said.
But all of this is important. Jesus, in one of the last acts of His earthly life, instituted the Lord's Supper with the words, "whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup". We read that and realize that all of this fits into His sacrifice for us. "OK, now I see it in the Big Picture, and it squares with what I heard and read."
How often do I, in my limited vision and understanding, miss the obvious, that someone standing farther back, either in distance or time, can see? How much that I do not understand of other's lives, all of a sudden becomes clearer from a different perspective?
What is that old Native American saying about walking in another's shoes? Maybe I should practice that more often.
We can see how the story unfolds, and better understand the words and actions of Jesus, because we know how the it eventually plays out. We also have available the Spirit of God to help us in our study, and things look a bit different when we see the words on paper and have the opportunity to go back and read them again and again. Those other folk, from that first century era, had the words first hand, but then they were gone, replaced by other words. I remember how the disciples suddenly got a meaning from some words of Jesus as the events unfolded many days down the road. Then they understood.
So I think about how the people must have wondered at Jesus' words, on eating His flesh and drinking His blood, that come later in Chapter 6 of John. We can kind of understand what He is talking about from our vantage point, 2,000 years later, but they did not have this perspective. A lot of them probably just shook their heads and said "Hey, this guy is nuts, forget this!" In fact, toward the end of this same chapter it says that many people quit following Him. Even the disciples, those closest to Him wondered about what He said.
But all of this is important. Jesus, in one of the last acts of His earthly life, instituted the Lord's Supper with the words, "whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup". We read that and realize that all of this fits into His sacrifice for us. "OK, now I see it in the Big Picture, and it squares with what I heard and read."
How often do I, in my limited vision and understanding, miss the obvious, that someone standing farther back, either in distance or time, can see? How much that I do not understand of other's lives, all of a sudden becomes clearer from a different perspective?
What is that old Native American saying about walking in another's shoes? Maybe I should practice that more often.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)