Jumbo Jets and the Almighty

I usually ooze with fascination at the viewing of a huge passenger jet flying through the sky. I don’t get it. I mean, how do thousands of pounds of metal soar tens of thousands of feet above the ground? It blows my mind.

Now, if you’re an aviation engineer and understand the infinite complexities of physics then you’re probably scratching your head at my easy and simple amusement—I could watch planes take-off and land all day.

Though I don’t have it all figured out nor do I understand everything about how it works, I still avail myself of the conveniences of flying. This avenue of transportation proves faster and at times cheaper (considering the high costs of gas). But besides all of that, I just think flying is so cool.

God reminds me of those enormous jumbo jets. He’s amazing. He’s mind-boggling. And I just can’t wrap my mind around everything that he encompasses. God’s ways don’t always make sense to me. There still exists a lot of stuff about God that simply takes me for a loop. For example, I don’t fully follow his relationship with the Gentiles before Christianity. And, I fail to completely grasp his involvement in the nations while at the same time not violating people’s free will.

However, I trust him. I avail myself of the benefits of Christianity though I still find many aspects of it difficult to comprehend. God doesn’t expect people to know everything about him—they couldn’t if they tried. But God has made it clear that he will save those who put their trust in him and obey him.

I may not understand everything entailed in getting jumbo jets off the ground, but I know that they do and that I can ride in them. In the same way, I may not know all there is to know about God’s plan to save mankind, but I still embrace it and should.

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out” (Romans 11:33)!

Right or Easy

Often we speak of right or wrong, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense to me to speak of right or easy (a line in the latest Harry Potter movie pushed my thoughts in this direction). It makes sense for the simple reason that the right thing to do usually requires the most effort and diligence. The wrong way, on the other hand, hardly entails the slightest effort. I find this telling to say the least.

Keep the previous in mind as you survey the following biblical examples. Noah would have had a much easier life, and less embarrassing perhaps, had he not followed God in building the ark. If Jeremiah would have just kept himself quiet, he could have avoided all of the rejection and disappointment. John the Baptizer could have enjoyed the good life and lived it up had he not chosen the way of self-mastery and discipline. I suppose that Jesus could have escaped the tortuous event at Calvary had he just given up on his mission. What do you think?

What about those who traveled the easy road? How are they presented in Scripture? Instead of fighting off the desire, Adam and Eve caved to the pressure negatively changing the world forever. The Pharisees should have thought for themselves, but that idea lost to the ease of simply accepting the misguided traditions. Judas could have returned and made things right—faced the music—but taking his life quickly and easily ended his earthly problems. Getting the picture, yet?

Sin and easy have strolled through history hand in hand. The right decision rarely appears as the easy one. Opting for easy has penned the book of excuses. Children today need loving, yet firm and consistent discipline, but that takes effort, work and a constant diligence that wears parents out—it’s easier to let them have their way. A lot of Christians need to do a better job studying and growing as students of God’s word, but the task involves headaches, time, endless searching and confusion—just too much to mess with, right? Or, easy?!

The road less traveled typically poses the greater difficulty—that’s why it’s less traveled. Jesus touched on these thoughts when he spoke “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Though at first glance the choice to make looks apparent and it seems safe to assume that the difficulty of the effort involved makes little difference in the reward offered. Yet, in fact, the opposite of the expectation usually awaits those who choose their course of life by its appeal. And so we have the paradox of Jesus’ challenge: “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it: but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24).

Making choices in relation to their degree of difficulty doesn’t serve the good of the soul. I wouldn’t suggest seeking the easy way out.

A Big Responsibility

Posting personal thoughts for the public eye (say, in a blog) imposes a grave responsibility for those who would do it. I'm quite scared every time I publish a post or reread my profile. My aim is to present Christianity in realistic ways, truthfully and accurately without tainting the work Jesus left me to do. I possess a constant fear that I won't accomplish that or that I'll be irreparably misunderstood. In fact, I've almost deleted the blog several times.

But that would go against everything I believe Christianity is about. Slip-ups, falls, making mistakes, yet all the while gaining ground captures the essence of Christianity. I enter Peter as evidence. What a Christian giant! And, how hard he fell on occasion! Remember the big mess up on the night of Jesus' trial - the three denials? In the book of Galatians, Paul had to remind him to act in a Christian manner. This is the guy who initially proclaimed the gospel of the risen Christ in Jerusalem, initiating the unstoppable movement of Jesus-followers. The great Christian apostle, Peter, dropped the ball on several occasions. Yet, who doubts him as a genuine Christian person in love with the cause of Christ?

So, if you see something in my posts reeking of inconsistency or irrationality, do not go into shock - consider me human. On that note, I don't want to warrant confusion about my emphasis on realistic Christianity. That's not to say it's easy. On the contrary, realistic perspectives typically spray paint black our rose colored glasses. However, living as a Christian, though difficult and trying, offers the most rewarding and joyful life imaginable.

Basically, all I want to achieve for the moment is to beg you not to believe everything promoted about Christianity. It's not radical and fanatical in the negative sense many use those terms today (I won't attempt to brain wash you nor would I endorse bombing an abortion clinic). Real people, with real lives and real problems follow Jesus. The smug and sanctimonious bigots who are often portrayed as staples of Christianity solicit disgust from genuine Christians. Don't believe the spin, rather, give Jesus a hearing and you won't regret it.

Time for Thanksgiving

The title of the post may mislead. I'm not intending to sound as if I have a set time to offer my thanks, nor am I proposing that blessings must accrue before I give thanks for them. The title merely suggests that the American holiday of Thanksgiving has arrived (well, it's only three days away).

I know the heritage enveloping this special holiday, and I respect it very much. However, it shouldn't take a national holiday to remind me to give thanks for the blessings flowing my way. I know the thought sounds trite - "Thanksgiving should be everyday for Christians." Trite, yeah, but true. I must admit, rarely do I think about just how blessed I am. I can't begin to list all of the realities in my life that bring me joy and happiness for which I must drop to my knees and praise and thank God for his kindness.

The thought occurs to me that Christianity as its lived by too many, hardly grips the soul and demands an ever present thankfulness. I often witness that some of those professing to follow Christ rarely acknowledge the life altering impact of Christianity - a difference that would cause the thankless to assume an immediate posture of gratitude. Nothing we could ever imagine or dream up could come close to the significance of the change wrought in a life given to Jesus. In Christ the void fills, the hopeless find hope, the aimless find direction and the have-nothings have everything! I want Christianity to affect me like this, don't you? And can you imagine the appreciation exuding from people who've experienced and genuinely understood this affect of Jesus on them? They most certainly wouldn't need to read through my meanderings about being thankful!

As I examine my own life and thoughts, I tremble that I haven't allowed the import of Christianity to prompt me to more thankfulness. I need to live as though I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for Jesus (and it's certainly true). I need to live as though I can't say thank you enough - thanks-a-million won't cut it. And one day, one week or some passing moment of robotic graciousness won't do either. No, my prayers, thoughts and actions must continually mirror the appreciation I should hold for my Lord. Anything less would fail to measure up to the debt I owe. It's time for thanksgiving.

On Realistic Christianity

I'm new to the world of blogging. All of this may seem a tad rough, but I plan to learn more as I go. Nonetheless, let me share with you my reasons for putting my self through this initial and frustrating experience.

I want to provide a resource for those craving realistic Christianity. In my opinion, the type of Christianity propagated through the media and some "Christian" pulpits in our country fails to accurately portray Christianity as it's established in the New Testament. I get the impression that some feel they can't live up to the demands of Christ and so never attempt to seize his blessings. In my estimation, they've bought into an unrealistic sham.

In other words, I want to be real about Christianity. That's right. I want to admit that I don't know all the answers. I want to confess that I have human emotions and desires. I recognize that I fall short and must work at reaching spiritual maturity. It's realistic to assume I will have doubts and fears. If Christianity is painted as an unrealistic goal or an unattainable life, then, of course, people will cast it aside in hopeless disgust. However, I believe that genuine Christianity has a necessary existence in the real world you and I occupy.

My goal for this blog (and I understand the thousands of directions it may go) aims at promoting Christianity not as a religion for a few pious and self-righteous individuals that have arrived, but rather a religion for real people that need understanding like you and me. Jesus provides hope to everyone, and living that hope isn't an impossible illusion but a realistic ambition. Not only that, pursuing Jesus and his way offers a fulfilling and realistic worldview for those in the mansions and those in the streets, for those in America and those in Africa, for those with an ugly past and those with a bright future - everyone.