Realistic Christianity

2007-08-28T10:14:00.000-05:00

Done with this blog. Look for another page somewhere else some other time.

Love everyone.

Long Time, No Blog

2007-05-17T08:19:00.000-05:00

I may have used that title before but it works. I want to make this blog thing happen but have yet to find the consistency. I have too many major things going on in my life right now.

I will come back. I will make this work. I want a new look and a fresh start. Hang around.

I'm Glad God's With Us

2007-04-17T08:26:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it's difficult to tell. At times seeing God seems a lot like looking at the road through a frozen windshield that you didn't scrape off very well. Too many things, bad things, get in the way.

Some are scratching there heads after yesterday's tragic events at Virginia Tech. God? You around?

Though it may seem impossible, he is. And I'm glad. Today, because evil broke in for a while, people will need God's comfort. Families will need hope. Friends will need compassion. And lives will need direction.

And, as he always is, God will be around.

Ever don't know what to do?

2007-04-10T09:19:00.000-05:00

Decisions to make.

Choices presented.

Pros and cons.

Sometimes I throw my hands in the air in frustration, pulling at my hair in distress, because I can't figure out what to do. One moment I have it, and in the next breath it slips through my fingers. The right choice. The correct decision. It leaves and misses me like the hope of the Texas Rangers making the playoffs.

I wait on God but grow impatient too often. I wonder, what is he really going to do? Will he show up and tell me? I realize that in my haste I've ventured the wrong direction on many of my decisions. And I also know that I've not mastered the art of deciding correctly. It just seems that at times all options appear viable, worth pursuing. And, unfortunately, my flesh chimes in on occasion.

What happens if I choose wrong? What will come of it? Well...I just don't know, maybe something bad or something worse. But I have decided to lean on this: if I love God and pursue him in all decisions, all things will work out for good. He'll clean up my mess. He'll mop up my spills (Romans 8:28).

Good thing too...I can sure make a mess at times.

Boldness Brings Change...Not Time

2007-03-30T09:31:00.000-05:00

I love the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in his letter from the Birmingham Jail to a group of church leaders critical of his tactics: “I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.” His point, we can’t wait until the time is right to fight for right. He believed that true change happens at the intentional decision and commitment of people to take bold action.

And we know the change he brought about through his peaceful, but bold, initiatives. He campaigned and lost his life on the fundamental basis that time would not heal the racial wounds suffered in America.

My kids have quickly figured out that when I say “wait” it usually means “no.” They understand that nothing will happen as long as my answer stays in wait mode. Yes, life moves along, sometimes slowly. The Christian walk often mirrors a limp or a crawl. The process creeps along. But we cannot sit in wait mode. God is on the move.

Don’t wait to join God in the change he wants to make through you. Often, time alone makes no difference. Decide to act; to jump in and meet God in his work of recreation and reconciliation. When it comes to initiating change in the lives of people God seeks to make-over we have a “legitimate and unavoidable impatience.”

Study Partners

2007-03-29T09:36:00.000-05:00

I have a lot of people I learn from everyday. The World Wide Web makes this possible for me. It’s like going to school every morning when I fire up my computer. I have instant access to countless ideas and thoughts. I love it!

It has programmed me to think, to question, to probe the voices of others. I have found the courage to put myself out there and face critique. Learning happens. Knowledge swells. Life changes.

People I’ve never met personally have become my friends and teachers. I know that to form relationships in a virtual world leaves doesn’t fill the void of true relationship. That’s the challenge—to move beyond and take the lessons and live them; to bring the virtual world into my world.

I aim to develop more intimate and edifying relationships with a people I can see, touch, smell and hear. But I don’t plan on dumping those teachers I’ve come to respect who teach me from the screen of my computer or that speak from the speakers of my sound system. They’ve grown into wonderful study partners.

Well, I thought things had settled...

2007-03-28T08:46:00.000-05:00

As soon as all of the fuss over the house had settled Spring Break rolled in. Along with it, the passing of my wife's great-grandmother and 12 days later, her son, my wife's grandpa. It's been a tough few weeks.

Traveling.

Grieving.

Hurting.

But I've learned a lot and have new insights to life. I hope to kick this thing and get it going again. Stay tuned.

Update...outside and chaos.

2007-03-09T09:43:00.000-06:00

Things have settled down at our home. Most of our carpet no longer exists so we're walking on concrete at the moment.

The great thing though... We've taken more opportunities to venture outside. I love it. In fact, families ought to consider canceling their cable or satellite services in a move to force themselves to have to find something else to do. Just a suggestion...

God has ways of causing us to focus through the chaos. He brings us to a point where we can't take it anymore. We stop and realize, with a sigh of relief, life needs simplifying. God is more available when we aren't so busy with ourselves.

But at times we all need life to speed up so that we'll have to bring ourselves to slow it down a bit.

Ewww! Sewer Problems...

2007-03-06T08:37:00.001-06:00

So, yesterday I hopped out of the shower into a giant puddle of water—water coming from the bottom of the toilet. Uh oh, I thought, and scrambled to sop up a sop-less mess. I did the best I could to push back the water—thinking how very weird that it didn’t back into the tub very much.

I got out of that bathroom, went out of my bedroom, down the hall and discovered, yep…the other bathroom flooded as well, and worse. Quickly I discovered the water didn’t want to stay in the bathrooms and began traveling along the baseboards into the hall, our room, our closet and the living room. All of it ruined by nasty water…now the pain of dealing with insurance.

Last night, we slept to the peaceful sound of blowers and dehumidifiers. Several chunks of carpet have been ripped up and we’re waiting for baseboards to dry out. Fun, fun. My wife just called and it sounded like she was standing on a runway at Dallas Love Field. Oh yeah, the city came out and removed the blockage in our sewer line—a big thanks to the city of Marshall.

Looks like we’re getting a new floor, which is nice and which we had planned to do in the future. But I would have rather just saved up for it instead of going through the discomfort and insurance hassles.

I can’t believe people would intentionally fraud the insurance company to get something—it’s such a pain. Oh and is it a game! My prayer all night long as I couldn’t sleep—God let me seek you in this situation and not crumble to the temptation to exploit our trouble toward selfish means.

Thoughts on Mission

2007-03-01T10:42:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to work through a lot of meditating I've done on God's intentional mission to the world and how it involves us. The following kind of sums up where I'm at...chime in and help a brother out.

God has a mission—a mission to reclaim and recreate a fallen world distorted and shattered by sin. His plan began to unfold through a people selected to live out his mission. Working within the fallen system they sold out to idols and squandered their opportunity to carry out the mission of Jehovah. Using the hope of a faithful remnant, God occupied flesh and pitched his tent on earth in the person of Jesus. Jesus then lived the mission Israel had aborted.

This mission included ways foreign to thinking associated with our fallen world. Instead of forcing people to accept the ways of Jehovah, the mission, which was Jesus, included a path of servitude and suffering (Read Isaiah 40-55). His death defined the mission he lived. This voluntary death put on display for the world the love of God. It paved the way for the restoration of relationships that had crumbled due to the sins of humanity.

Jesus has since left earth. But the mission still plods on. It is up to those who accept the invitation to participate in God’s mission to continue to carry it out—to be the mission; to be Jesus to a world still marred by and enslaved to sin. The church, the body of Christ, must now put on display the love of God as the mission of God. The elements of the mission have not changed either. Those who accept the invitation to partner with God in his mission must also embrace a life of servitude and suffering—they must die to live the mission.

Rethinking

2007-02-28T09:43:00.000-06:00

A process every disciple of Jesus should embrace is rethinking. Could what we do now result from what the ages have handed us? Possible. Have we reached all of our conclusions on our own? Doubtful. Rethinking and mulling over your beliefs doesn’t require abandoning your convictions or faith.

In fact, “thinking outside of the box” demands mustering up tremendous courage. Thinking in a direction that threatens to breach the walls of a beloved paradigm necessitates a deeply anchored faith in God. How courageous are you? Can you entertain the thought of rethinking?

I know. Sticking with what we’ve always known poses little danger to our comfort and security. It’s safe. It makes sense to us. “What isn’t broken doesn’t need fixin,’” right? Yes, well… if it really isn’t broken. But have we gathered the courage to question our assumption that the thing isn’t broken? That’s the challenge!

Think like Saul of Tarsus. Look at the journey Peter embarked upon from his desire for a political, Rome-conquering Messiah to the reality of a crucified-then-resurrected Messiah. Consider Apollos grappling with his own misguided thinking. None of these individuals would have advanced God’s story had they failed to practice rethinking.

Taking a break

2007-02-20T08:37:00.000-06:00

Sometimes, the writing just doesn't flow.

So, I'm taking a break for several days. My wife and I are going to get away.

I need this time off. Everyone needs time off.

A Long Journey

2007-02-15T08:50:00.000-06:00

I’ve looked back over my trek as a minister, and, wow, I’ve trudged a long way. I don’t know what to think. The point at which I started seems so distant and elementary. I appreciate the people who helped begin my journey, but as far as clinging to their protected beliefs and dogmas—to a great extent I’ve moved on.

I’ve entered new lands of exploration far removed from the walls of propositions I comfortably believed protected and defined me. Now, the city of my former paradigm sits in ruin. I’ve journeyed to new places leaving behind the comforts and securities that really weren’t.

Around every corner I’m startled by new discoveries and pursuits. With each step I take, I lose my breath in fear of what could happen. The path I’m taking scares me and offers little security. But I know it leads to God because that is all I want. He is the city of refuge I seek. His walls won’t crumble. I’ll get there. I’m not alone…and that’s what keeps me going.

'The Fool has Said in his Heart' Psalm | Psalm 14

2007-02-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

The first line of the Psalm rings in my ears as I remember sitting in class after class on apologetics. “People who can’t see that God exists are fools!,” the message came across to me. I don’t know about that now. I never bothered to read the entire passage (an unfortunate track record).

“Investigate deeper,” I say to myself. What is the Psalm saying to me? I can’t ask what does it mean or what can I write about it or how can I apply it to Creationism. Those questions don’t get to the heart of how we should peer into God’s revelation. Here’s what I heard.

God seeks me. He is there—I should acknowledge him. He has manifested his presence and activity—I ought to recognize it. Not only is he merely involved in the activities of human life, he wants me to participate with him.

These exercises re-teaching myself to read Scripture bring discomfort. I’ve always looked at God’s word with a motive to teach it, dissect it and formulate it. But never to have it teach, dissect and form me. This approach invites a struggle. But I seem to remember person who experienced transformation after a wrestling match with God. Let the match begin.

Too Honest? | Psalm 13

2007-02-09T11:30:00.000-06:00

The more I read and study the Psalm the more impressed I am at their honesty. Read the beginning of Psalm 13. It almost causes one to cringe at the bluntness. I shudder a bit. Is this line of pointed questioning treading a little too close to disrespecting God? Are we to question him so boldly?

It’s not just this Psalm. No, these open, honest and soul-cleansing themes run throughout the poetry of Ancient Israel. So real…so raw and unrefined.

Personally, I seek to capture that attitude before the presence of God. I want to know him so deeply that I’m not afraid to express my anxieties, fears and doubts before him. I want to trust him so thoroughly that I can question him without fear he will turn his back to me. Can the prayers of the Psalmists become my own? That’s my quest…

How do you feel about it?

My son, winners and losers

2007-02-08T08:21:00.000-06:00

My son plays basketball at the Boys and Girls Club. It's his first year and he's experiencing something that continually rips out my heart. In a league where the age range from 9 years to 12 years old, he found himself on a team of rookies, mostly young and short. I found myself coaching them. And we've yet to find that winning a game feeling.

0-15(?). That's right, we haven't won a game. However, I've learned a lot about life and hope that my son has too. He's broken after nearly every game and many times I can't find the words. We live and try to learn from it.

But the other night, after we hopped in the truck, he asked "Why are we such losers"? My heart palpitated. And then, I had what I believe to be a moment of after the game brilliance. See what you think...

I told him: "Jarret, winning games doesn't determine your status as a loser. You can be a loser and win games. It's about your character. You can be a winner as a person, as a team mate and as an athlete and still lose games. Winning games is only the icing on the cake of being a winner." Then we continued to discuss how attitude and conduct on the court and toward others makes one a winner or loser more than a win/loss record.

I'd like to hear anyone's thoughts.

Smooth Talkers | Psalm 12

2007-02-01T09:47:00.000-06:00

Do you ever find yourself in a conversation with a wordsmith? You know the type, right? He knows what to say, when to say it and how. His charms and flatteries flow from his mouth like waters from a spillway. I want to be completely honest here. Sometimes I’m wowed. Sometimes I’m disgusted. Sometimes I’m doubtful…of the sincerity.

I’ve been in the conversations where a smooth talker will lavish the praise on an individual only to leave and speak venom of that person with the same intensity and slickness required for the praise. I know I can’t blanket everyone with my observations. But a lot of smooth talkers are double talkers.

David bemoaned those who spoke “with flattering lips and a double heart.” He understood the power of words and the evil they could foster. He begged men to cling to God’s words and not rely upon their own abilities to speak.

The power to wield the tongue is one that quickly enslaves a man. A smooth talker can overly impress himself to the point his ability to talk claims allegiance over truth and sincerity.

Forgive the Last Post

2007-01-30T13:57:00.000-06:00

I went back and read my most previous post. Ughh. I think I had good intentions but, bah, what a stretch to fit in Psalm 11 to that concept. Sometimes I'm not up to it...writing, that is.

But isn't that what this is all about? It typifies life. Some days go better than others...ups and downs. Yet if we keep moving progress is made.

Last summer I went on a spiritual trek with about 20 other people. I learned so much and gained so much. I also discovered an illustration that goes along with what I'm saying. As we climbed and trudged along seeking out high camp the terrain went up and down. However, through those miniature valleys and hills we consistently pressed to higher elevation. That's the Christian's journey. We suffer in the valleys and relish the high points but we keep moving up.

Ok, to sum it up, my previous post was a valley I hope to climb out of sooner than later.

Feeling Naked | Psalm 11

2007-01-29T09:25:00.000-06:00

The news came in between the Bible classes and worship hour yesterday. She had already told my wife the news, but she had to stop and tell me…

One of my Christian sisters, who has the misfortune of being the alphabetical first on my mobile phone’s list of numbers, smiled and said, “You called me yesterday morning,” I gulped with an aching feeling of what was about to hit me. “Yeah, I got to listen to you sing in your truck for about five minutes,” she said this time laughing. Red-faced, I played it off like the coolest thing to ever happen to me. Inside I felt naked.

I felt invaded. No privacy, no time to rock-out with just me and The Beatles. Now I don’t blame her, the poor unfortunate soul. I admit, the whole thing is rather funny, but I couldn’t suppress those nagging feelings of having been exposed—no mask, no social inhibition.

But I got to thinking. Is it a bad thing to let my church family see the real me—the one exposed and unhidden? God sees. “His eyes behold, his eyelids test the sons of men.” Shouldn’t one of my hopes be to see others and be seen by others as God sees?

The thought of being nude brings shame and fright to many because of what it signifies and makes known. Think nightmares of going to school in your underwear. It signifies undeniable vulnerability. It reveals and exposes those things we can easily cover up. It discloses the blemishes and the imperfections common to everyone though everyone doesn’t need to see. It puts us in a spot we don’t want to occupy—reality about who we are.

What I’m about to write shouldn’t be construed as an endorsement for a naturalist lifestyle. However, in a social, psychological and emotional sense disrobing ourselves could begin a revolution of spiritual healing and renewal that pulls God’s people closer together. Hopefully, instead of scaring off that brother and sister (she shared the saved voicemail with her husband), I exposed a cover-up and opened a new channel for relationship.

Who knows? Maybe I did scare them away, but it’s a start.

Show up | Psalm 9

2007-01-25T09:47:00.000-06:00

Have you ever prayed silently that God would just show up all to see and never doubt? Ever asked, “Why can’t God just leave no mistake about his justice and presence in a world gone wild?” Where is he at? David asked this question too.

He, in hair-pulling frustration, wanted to know why God didn’t show up and wrap up all the problems and injustice taking place on a daily basis. David highlights the denial of those who engage such wickedness. They have removed God from their minds. They’ve talked themselves into believing he’s won’t find out—“God who?” they feign. “God is in none of his thoughts” bemoans David.

So why not show up and set them straight?

We could look at the person who lives in the shadows of reality and scoff at his foolishness for not recognizing. We could chide him for refusing to see what we plainly see. Or we could take away a valuable lesson from David’s insight into the human condition. Let’s do that.

Keep God on your mind. Do not push him aside or let him slip away. If we can see where people go when they don’t believe God is there then we should invite the discipline of bringing him into our thoughts constantly. As David will say in a later Psalm, “I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure” (Psalm 16:8).

God may not show up on a grand-scale and in the manner we sometimes wish he would, but he can show up in our thoughts and lives whenever we focus on him.

But Men | Psalm 9

2007-01-23T09:47:00.000-06:00

“Glory has its Price” reads the title of an article about the ’81 49ers. They’re the team that brought glory to San Fran with “The Catch” during the NFC Championship game—Joe Montana to Dwight Clark. Now they’re a group of guys who can barely walk. Crooked backs, shattered knees, stiff necks and immobile shoulders about sums up the bodies of these once inhuman athletes. Reality creeps in as 4.4 forties have slowed to rickety walks. It hurts just to read of their pains.

What could cause such turn around? Well, naturally the body wears down. However, the process speeds up when the body endures monstrous, bone-crushing hits day after day—consider Lawrence Taylor and Joe Theismann (Video). But another reason, a more fundamental explanation, can answer the question. As big and physically superior as NFL football players can be, as fast and super-human as they might seem, they are but men.

And taking a look back through history, humans have forgotten that bit of truth over and over. When David languishes over the enemies of God in Psalm 9, he declares that those who rise up against God’s ways will parish and fail. God will set things right.

David exposes the heart of those rebels. He understands why mere mortals would dare challenge the righteousness of God and forsake his ways in the face of his justice, mercy and marvelous works. They forgot a simple, yet imperative, facet of reality. David responds “Put them in fear, O Lord, that the nations may know themselves to be but men.”

Appropriately, Anne Lamott said, “The biggest difference between you and God is that God doesn’t think he’s you.”

The Great Omission

2007-01-19T08:28:00.000-06:00

I’m reading a book by Dallas Willard titled The Great Omission. His concepts and depth have already gripped me. He writes to dismantle the common misconception that discipleship is an elite level of Christianity. He uses the biblical account to show that you cannot be Christian and not a disciple. Jesus is about more than just forgiving your sins—he wants to change your life! Only completely following him as a learner, an apprentice will bring life-change about.

This book may change the way I teach and bring people to Jesus. It has already altered my course of thought about God’s expectations. It has opened my eyes to some of the deeper troubles haunting God’s people today, namely outright disobedience.

If you’re a reader and desire a deeper relationship with God, read The Great Omission.

Sleet

2007-01-17T08:37:00.000-06:00

Ok, so Marshall, TX has fortunately missed the winter weather that so many around us have received. Not today!

I like it to be honest. It forces you inside, you get to build a fire and life stops for a little bit.

The world keeps going though. Even if I take a break. Even if church activities and business come to a hault for a day or so. Yes...time moves on and life happens.

It's probably good that we all get reminded once in awhile that life continues without us.

Can't Figure Him Out

2007-01-15T12:53:00.000-06:00

The Psalmist of Psalm 8 gushes at the glory and excellence of God. He’s blown away by a God he can’t figure out. What? How? These questions continuously swirl around heaven’s God. Man will never capture a full conception of God.

The mystery magnifies his greatness. I mean, who wants a God who can be figured out? Who wants a God who can be demoted to syllogisms and arguments—a God on paper? The God of heaven baffles the mind and leaves the seeker seeking. He drops jaws and defies figures. He is there but he is here.

The God that cannot be fully comprehended and explained hasn’t left it all to obscurity. His love for man resists questioning. He left no doubt. God’s love for humanity is as great as the quest to understand him.

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is your name in all the earth!

Nurture them

2007-01-12T09:52:00.000-06:00

“To help grow or develop” is one definition of the word nurture. A person could argue that this word captures the idea behind Paul’s words in Ephesians 6. “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Merged with all the other principles God gives for raising kids, parents must do some teaching and instructing. Yet, out of fear of indoctrination many parents have left their children to their own way. But Paul curtails the chance of indoctrination by prefacing his instructions for parents to instruct by telling fathers to watch how they teach their children. Don’t force and pressure. Do it out of love. Don’t push. Lift.

The scare of indoctrination is real. When speaking of indoctrination, it is meant that someone is forced or coerced, brainwashed if you will, to believe a certain thing. Nonetheless, it has nothing to do with what is taught. It has to do with how it’s taught. Parents have scared, belittled and manipulated their children into certain teachings. Paul encourages Christians to avoid such tactics.

Nurture better describes the approach Christian families should embrace when teaching God’s truth.

God Knows | Psalm 7

2007-01-11T09:18:00.000-06:00

At times it’s just you and God. You venture out not knowing what will happen. You have critics (enemies) attempting to thwart your pursuit of God’s righteousness. You have “friends” who won’t get your back on this one. It’s just you and God.

David was overcome with these feelings of rejection and loneliness at times. How did he handle them? How did he face hostility alone?

Read Psalm 7. He developed an outlook on life that requires the deepest trust and faith in God. He knew God would make it right no matter what. Can you trust God in those times? Could you move forward against all odds? Against criticism and cynicism? Against resistance? And, would you do this knowing God may never bring the truth to light in your lifetime? Could you press on understanding that even so, as long as he knows, it’s ok?

Discipline Them

2007-01-05T12:56:00.000-06:00

Dad: Son, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you.
Son: (Thinking to himself) Does he really think that? He’s never felt the blow of his paddle. Yeah right!

Have you been there before? I have. I’ve experienced both sides of that exchange and it’s looking doubtful that my father-side experiences will ever catch up to my child-side experiences. Looking back, though, makes me thankful my dad truly believed that phrase.

Parents don’t want to bring the pain of discipline to their children but it is a necessary part of raising them. Discipline proves a parents love; it doesn’t negate it. God told his people that they could confirm his love and acceptance of them through his discipline of them (Hebrews 12:5-6). Throughout history, God administered consequences to people who had chosen to ruin themselves by leaving his way. Why? He loved them and couldn’t bear their ruin.

As parents, we must understand the heart from which discipline emerges. It’s a heart of love, compassion and concern. Loving our kids involves wanting the best for them. And sometimes that means we have to enforce what is best when they don’t see it. At other times parents must love their children by making them face the consequence of harmful activity. We restrain. We spank. We remove privileges. But we love them the whole way.

Most parents understand this concept. The difficult part for me is my doubt that my children understand it. And that brings me back to the conversation we read at the beginning. We must continue to reinforce to our children that we discipline because we love. We don’t like it, but we like them more.

So a few suggestions to make our discipline a discipline of love: Try not to discipline in rage. Don’t punish out of embarrassment (that’s about the parent and not the kid). Avoid humiliating them. Explain the reason for the punishment. And one I’m working on—keep from yelling at them, stay calm. Discipline yourself—if you fail at discipline then be honest with your kids about it (e.g., Honey, I’m sorry I yelled at you like that.)

Is this easy? Well, no. But love isn’t easy. Let’s work on this together and examine ourselves. Let’s find one thing we can work on and start this week. You may find that, like me, you raise your voice too much—let’s work on it. Our children deserve the discipline that isn’t easy.

Accept them

2007-01-04T17:03:00.000-06:00

Parents have dreams for their kids. They envision athletic achievement, scholastic success, fame, money or whatever else grand they may want to place on the list. Sometimes parents have their child's life completely mapped out.

In the past few years there has been a barrage of reality shows exposing overzealous parents pushing and pressuring their children toward greatness. However, the parents usually blind themselves to the resistance coming from the kids. It too often seems that these children suffer from their parent's desire to make them something they’re not. Sadly, the kids trudge along knowing that the life their parents have created is the only acceptable one. The message ultimately comes through that who the kid is just isn’t good enough. And as you can probably imagine, growing up receiving this message can prompt an onslaught of psychological damage and feelings of worthlessness.

Loving parents accept their child period—no conditions, no requirements, no tryouts, etc. So what if a boy doesn’t have the athletic skills his father enjoyed. He’s not any less worthy of the father’s love and affection than if he had exceeded his father’s talent.

Parents who exert countless hours molding their children in their own image have failed to see the child’s true image and worth in God. But by seeing below the surface and accepting this truth parents can accept their children, creating an atmosphere where their relationship can flourish.

Cry | Psalm 6

2007-01-03T12:44:00.000-06:00

I bought into something that may ruin me (if it hasn’t already). For the longest time, I have lived the philosophy that men don’t cry. To shed tears expresses weakness. I’m wrong and I know it. But when it comes time to live the truth that rebukes me I fight. I don’t cry.

Shame on me… My relationship with God has suffered because I’ve yet to tap that moment when life hurts so bad that I feel my own inabilities and express them through tears that only God can dry. David’s words stung me hard. “I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.” He reached a point of transparency with God I have yet to find.

Tears don’t expose weakness. They bring hope and healing. Tears shower the soul in a refreshing stream of renewal and regeneration. They help wipe away the smudges from the windows of our eyes that have blurred our outlook on life.

I can write these things. They’re true. But can I embody them? I pray that before my soul hardens and I lose the hope of discovering the heart of David that I can live my words. Cry—the dirt is building up.

Christmas Break

2006-12-20T12:15:00.000-06:00

I'll be gone for awhile. I will pick up on our Psalms series when I return.

Have a merry Christmas. God bless each of you.

You Choose

2006-12-19T16:07:00.000-06:00

Choose God. That decision makes the difference between a life of joy or misery. Please understand that I didn’t say it would bring about a life void of troubles. Joy and misery arise out of one’s perspectives and loyalties and not from the absence or presence of adversity.

The psalmist of Psalm 5 (probably David) contrasts the life of wickedness and the life in pursuit of God’s way. The former brings misery, the latter savors indescribable joy. What do you want? And what will you do?

Count to Ten | Psalm 4

2006-12-18T13:28:00.000-06:00

Ever been told "count to ten" to stave off a fit? I have. But I always thought the advice too simple. However, there is something to taking a few minutes, calming down and not reacting to situations that make you angry.

[Intense sarcastic tone] Surprise, surprise. I discovered the concept in the Bible. Check out Psalm 4:4 and call it to mind when you're faced with the temptation to blow up.

Love Them

2006-12-15T08:17:00.000-06:00

[Throughout the Psalms series I will also intermingle a little series of articles I'm writing on parenting. I hope they can prove beneficial to you.]

For the next several weeks I’m going to write about parenting. I hesitate though. I shudder to think you might read this and think, “Does he think he’s a better parent than me? What nerve!” Disclaimer: I am not offering this series of articles from above you but as a fellow parent and struggling Christian wanting what is best for my family.

Parenting presents a common struggle to many of us. And it’s true that each family will battle different problems and encounter different dilemmas. No two kids are alike. None of them “turn out” the same and it seems that we must continually adjust how we raise the kids. However, after hours of intensive study and anxious doubt about my own ability to nurture my children I’m convinced parenting boils down to several godly principles that should permeate every unique detail and decision families employ in raising their kids.

Love your children and make sure they know it—love them unconditionally. Son, I love you regardless of… Daughter, you make me happy, period. Remember God is love (1 John 4:8). As we look to him as father, his love embraces us. He teaches us what love is all about—giving, sacrificing, no strings attached.

As the week unfolds I encourage each of us as parents to find ways to express love to our children expecting nothing in return. Send a note. Take lunch to them at school. Sit down and seek to understand where they’re coming from. Make them feel important and special. Love them.

I Will Not Fear | Psalm 3

2006-12-13T13:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever entered a building after dark? In dark church buildings, when all alone, the noises, squeaks and creaks echo into the once fearless heart. Oh, it simply sends chills up my spine to spend time in a darkened church building, all alone. Fear has forced me to leave too quickly on several occasions—before my work was finished.

The emotion of fear holds powerful sway over the human soul. It is crippling. The most physical elite can change to mush in the face of paralyzing terror. Fear can mute an otherwise prolific tongue. It has its ways of bringing progress to a halt.

With God we have no need to allow fear to knock us off track. We can continue with our life, even the simple things that fear often disorientates, like sleep. Through a real and present danger David writes, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear…”

God wants us to continue. He wants us to trudge ahead and so he offers us a reason not to fear—his sustaining presence and power. The very acknowledgement of God’s desire should cast away the fear that can often place a choke-hold on our humanity.

Now, I still don’t like to venture into a church building shrouded in shadow. But that’s really not what this is about. God wants to rid those fears that come about through anxiety, personal enemies, doubt, insecurities and worry—those sources of fear that we can’t see and touch, that can’t hide in a dark corner of a hallway. Will you let him enter your heart and drive out those monsters? Say it. I will not fear…

Refuge | Psalm 2

2006-12-12T10:24:00.000-06:00

Sometimes bad days arise. Occasionally, life treats us unfairly. Bad news, sickness and consequences come like pellets of rain that you can’t avoid. I, like you, face these times once in awhile, and more than I’d like to.

When I’ve had a bad day I anticipate going home to my wife. Over a cup of coffee and between the relentless questions from our kids I find refuge in our conversation. She doesn’t realize how much healing comes from those moments. I love escaping from the harshness of life’s storms into the shelter of our dialogue. We dream together. We complain together. We question things together. It makes the next day vulnerable to my fresh outlook on life.

It may be difficult for you to relate to this very personal illustration of refuge. But perhaps you can grasp the idea of escape and safety with something meaningful to you. It may be the confidence of a close friend, a time of the day or a special place to hide-out. Whatever the place of refuge, I want you to call up the feelings you experience when there. Consider them. Comfortable? Safe? Secure? That’s the idea.

Now, get this—Jesus wants you to make him a place of refuge too. He wants to bring comfort, safety and security to your life. He wants to warm you from the cold, to shield you from the arrows and shelter you from the storms. “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

I have not the creativity right now to come up with a title

2006-12-08T10:36:00.000-06:00

Today I received terrible news...family related. I don't have the energy or mental stamina to continue the series today.

Hm...life is like that, huh? To be Christian is not to be inhuman.

Grounded... Psalm 1

2006-12-07T08:49:00.000-06:00

When I worked for the city of Richardson, the department that employed me was attempting to combine three aspects of civil service into one functioning department. Headaches and confusion weren’t uncommon. Rarely, would I know where I’d go on any given day or what I’d receive as work. This job? That crew?

The uncertainty drove me crazy. Tossed here and there from one jobsite to the next, day to day, didn’t really cut it for me. When life grows tumultuous like my job did an unexplainable anxiety can set in, which can pinch off the joy and confidence of life. Thankfully, a pursuit of God’s way will bring about a totally different feeling of living.

The first Psalm says that the man who determines to stand with God and embrace his message is like the tree rooted deep into the ground next to a continual source of life. Grounded. Constant. Full of life. Yes, that’s the way to live.

Do you ever feel far away from true meaning? Have you ever thought that you’re simply floating through life as the leaves that fall in October? Pushed and forced by the wind? If so, ground yourself into the fertile soil of God’s love and law. Stay close to him and he’ll bring purpose and steadiness to your life.

A New...perhaps way too long...Series of Blogs

2006-12-06T14:22:00.000-06:00

To my few readers,

Yes, for one I treat this as though people read my blog; I aspire to be one of the big boys in the blog world. It's a thrilling form of communication. So if you read please tell others about it and send them a link.

Now to the important thing. I plan to start tomorrow with a series on the Psalms. I hope to write a devotional and encouraging blog each week day on an aspect from one of the Psalms. I don't intend for this to be a commentary nor do I plan to write over the entire Psalm. I hope to offer a bit of something to think about each day, which will find its source in my daily reading of the Psalms.

So I hope you'll join me and start this journey with me tomorrow.

Unload

2006-12-05T09:40:00.000-06:00

I have cares—things that bother me and battles to fight. Nearly always at the front of my mind rests that passage in Peter, “Cast your cares on him because he cares for you.” Wow. How amazing it is to unload on God!

The more we carry the baggage through life the more sluggish we walk. Have you ever reached those moments when you’re ready to quit? Living has sucked the life from you? The things you carry around hurt deeper than your shoulders? We’ve all been there, right?

Good news. God wants you to unload it on him. Let him carry your burdens and lighten your load for the rest of the journey. I’m afraid I try to carry my baggage too far at times. However, today is one of those days I can’t move forward anymore without dumping some stuff. It’s nice to know I have just the place to do that.

Going to see my family today

2006-12-01T11:04:00.000-06:00

Today I’m going to see my parents and my brother, his wife and kids. I often don’t appreciate what they mean to me and have failed to give them the time and attention they deserve.

I watched the movie Click the other night. It really hammered this thought home. We can so consume ourselves with pursuing happiness that we create a world of misery. I hope that the day never comes that I die regretting not taking the many opportunities to enjoy those I love most. Cliché? Maybe. But true.

Let God in Front

2006-11-29T12:51:00.000-06:00

Many of the Psalms encourage the anxious and doubtful to let God take charge, let him work things out. “Wait,” the Psalmist writes. But how difficult is that?

When doubts arise, when drama ensues and when fear sets in, the natural reaction is to handle it, and quickly. We often respond in haste to keep things in our control.

I love to ride four-wheelers if I’m driving them. I can’t stand being on the back. You know, a lot of my relationship with God is similar to my discomfort with going along for the ride. I want to sit up front and cut the path, and I don’t always let God get involved and take over. But true trust in him realizes that he can drive the trail much better than me.

“Wait,” the Psalmist writes, “wait.”

Dazed and Confused

2006-11-28T09:55:00.000-06:00

Overwhelming circumstances have flooded my life. Like waves crashing against a hapless boat, events have transpired that have sent me adrift. I haven’t lost anyone close to me. My children have their health. As far as my health goes, it’s intact. But the spiritual peace within those closest to me has seen brighter days. The storm clouds swallow the horizon and the thunder rumbles in the distance. The big one swiftly approaches; I can smell it on the air.

What happens when God allows one of his own to face the storm? How is one supposed to respond?

The blows have come in rapid succession, without warning, and I’ve been left dazed and confused. In raw confession I told a dear friend, “I don’t know how to feel; what am I to think?” Times like these occur for all of us. They happen. God lets them.

Do we pull up our anchor and give up? Do we seek shelter? Here’s a word from God that gave me direction.

Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to you, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I –Psalm 61

A Long Break

2006-11-27T09:23:00.000-06:00

Yes, I took a long break from writing, well...doing much of anything. It served a wonderful purpose as I spent time with my family and away.

Jesus often had to get away. He valued time spent apart from the crowd focused on those most important to him. Downtime should be scheduled into our busy lives, in my opinion. No rest drives the spirit of enthusiasm out of us. A walking zombie isn't good for much. Get away once in awhile. Relax. Take a deep breath.

As for me now, back to work.

Hurting Youth with Sports

2006-11-20T11:31:00.000-06:00

Our youth have ample adult-driven and adult-organized programs in which they can participate. They’re dragged all over the country to sporting events, hurried off to the next competition and pressured into hours of practice and preparation for…well, take your pick.

Many adults feel as though providing adolescents with non-stop activity serves to build trust and relationship between the two. Adults couldn’t be more wrong according to several experts on this subject. Chap Clark PhD., in his groundbreaking study, Hurt (2004), in which he immersed himself in the lives of hundreds of adolescents, concluded—“these activities are no longer for or about the students; they are for and about the adults in charge.” And, of course, our adolescents aren’t dumb; they pick up on the self-service of the adults. What follows is a widening of the gap between adult and teen relationships and an essential abandonment of the adolescent culture.

Sports aren’t bad. In fact, playing sports can provide a positive and extremely fun experience. Athletics can bring life to a child’s heart. But organized sports have in essence murdered the fun. The adults and parents who run and facilitate little league and high school athletics have increasingly created an atmosphere of intense competition relegating the fun to winning and out-doing others despite the costs. Practice times have increased. The stakes are higher. Kids face rejection and scorn for not performing. They’re hurt and tired. Striking out or missing a free-throw have become genuine fears. Adolescents feel like pawns in an adult chess match for the Little League title, in which the winning adult will find glory.

We, the adults, should be ashamed of ourselves. We’ve got to do something about this tragedy. What happened to the joy of playing sports? Why do we subject eight-year old boys to the humiliation of riding the pine because they’re not good enough?

Christians should lead the way in the fight to reclaim the joy of sports and the spirit of healthy competition. We should war against the self-centered and ego-driven forces behind too many of our sports organizations and public school athletics. No longer should we stand by and allow arrogant little league coaches to maneuver and position for the championship at the expense of our kid’s self-worth (example: I’m afraid you won’t play today Billy. This game is too important!).

To be fair, many Christians coach, and they do a wonderful job maintaining the proper perspective in athletics. I hope God continues to bless them and we continue to support them as they truly love our kids. May they increase!

I leave you with the real words of a former high school girl. Let it sink in.

I always played sports until I blew out my ankle and had reconstructive surgery. At that point I went from JV volleyball, varsity basketball, and varsity softball to the girl with the blown ankle. The remainder of my high school career I played only volleyball, when I could fit my foot in my shoe. So everything I once identified myself with was gone. I slipped into a depression. I started doing drugs and skipping school.

God's Youth Ministry

2006-11-17T12:28:00.000-06:00

Last post, I asked about a belief in God’s youth ministry. I’m convicted that God still actively seeks to reconcile the world, including our youth. What did Paul say? “God gives the increase” and “we are fellow laborers with God.”

God pursues relationship. He deeply desires that his children rest in his arms and not rebel against him. Sometimes we act as if God is merely letting things play out. “It’s all up to us,” we mutter in despair. But I refuse to see it that way. In fact, taking such a perspective becomes a barrier to God’s outreach. And when this attitude arises it becomes about us and not God.

From my current perspective, we should aim to acknowledge God’s work, pointing others to the God trying to reach them and ready to accept them. As far as our young generation, they need to see God’s relevance in real life. Our actions toward the youth must relay a message that emphasizes that God seeks the them, now, where they’re at—not some distant mirage of who they think they should be. Ah…plant and water as Paul put it.

As I see it, our ministry, in conjunction with God, involves planting seeds of the Father’s love and acceptance through expressing the redemptive work of Christ in our lives to others. But through this labor, we must realize God craves a relationship with every person we encounter; he’s active in pursuing reconciliation. Let’s trust in that—he can make it happen if we’ll step aside and let him.

Gripped by Jesus

2006-11-16T11:47:00.000-06:00

What do we really want to happen among our young people? Why a youth ministry? What is the goal for our youth? These questions have gripped my mind over the last month—more than usual.

I know, from comfort-shattering conversations I’ve had with my son about his experiences at school, that our kids face unnerving challenges to their faith and innocence. What can we do to stop the madness? How can we fight off the tide? Haunting, isn’t it?

In wrestling, fighting and struggling with these doubts, I’ve failed to produce a program, a secret or a formula to insure a positive outcome. But here’s the answer I’ve settled on. I’m not supposed to…yes, I know, it was hard for me to swallow. But think about it. Unless our kids are gripped by Jesus nothing I do, or anyone else does, will matter.

We simply must turn it over to him, join him and participate in his work to reclaim the hearts of our youth. God wants to envelope our kids in his love. Do we believe that? Do we truly acknowledge that God has a youth ministry too? May we have the strength and courage to trust him and get out of the way!

Now, how do we do that? Well, I’m still engaging that question. Want to talk?

Enjoying God

2006-11-15T10:02:00.000-06:00

Do you ever feel stressed out feeling your way through life? Do you ever struggle to focus on what life is all about? Do you ever fade into a hopeless exhaustion, wondering "when can I catch my breath?"

Does religion ever feel more like a strenuous work-out than a releasing break-through?

Here's what I think. We have suffered a derailing in our thoughts. Have we bought into the idea that productivity, busyness, activity and efficiency constitute what life's about? Or what church is about for that matter? Where's the rest in God? Where are the Sabbaths moments? Have we forsaken the art of enjoying God? Have we grown insensitive to the moments when God is present through the unanticipated and subtle episodes in life?

The other night a few of my buddies got together for a guys support group. The idea is to enjoy each other, to share our struggles and experience God's power through our unity. One of the guys, however, turned to the leader and boldly asked about our times together, "So what are we going to do with this night? Do we have a plan...do we have a plan?" he insistently asked.

It ripped the heart out of the reason for being together. "No!", I wanted to scream. "We don't have a plan! We don't have an agenda! We have each other!" But I didn't. I think now maybe I should have spoken up a little more about it.

Will we die chasing our tails never to enjoy God and his family? Must there be a reason for every second we spend together? Or can the reason be to simply enjoy each other? No plan, no agenda and no purpose other than to witness the power of God in belonging and acceptance.

Slow down. Take a moment to become aware of God's presence in the small things. He's everywhere we look. He's in the face of a sleeping baby. He's at the ladies night out when they've been waiting to eat for 45 minutes and must continue to converse with each other. He's present in the small "I love you!" note posted on the bathroom mirror. He's in the silence before Bible class kicks off on Sunday morning. He's in the arms of the teenager whose helping up someone who has fallen at school.

Slow down, take a look. You won't regret it.

When Jesus got angry...

2006-11-14T09:43:00.000-06:00

The Bible says Jesus became angry (Mark 3:5). But at what was he angry?

Did he get mad at people for not agreeing with him? Did he get upset at people for not catching on to his message fast enough? Did he throw a tantrum when others didn't go about things his way?

Ask these questions. Ponder them, deeply.

Ask these questions too. Have professed Jesus-followers ran off not-yet-Christians because they have failed to converse about Jesus without anger, sarcasm or intimidation? How has anger over matters intended for the realm of humble conversation affected the Christian witness?

In my estimation, it appears that Jesus grew angry at those who "knew better" and refused to bend in humiliation. His scathing rebukes were directed at those who suppressed people with self-righteous bullying.

I know these thoughts seem random...maybe so, but perhaps something to think about.

Let God Love

2006-11-13T09:35:00.000-06:00

The unwillingness to accept God's love stands in the way as a staunch barrier to a lot of Christians trying to navigate their way through life.

Joe knows the thoughts he has on occasion about women and the disrespect those thoughts represent. Mary recognizes her lack of love for her sisters at times, and the rudeness she can portray. "How can God love me?" she asks. While Joe weeps inwardly, "I'm just not good enough for God's love."

Wrong. God loves me...and this fact has often suffered rejection from my mind... no matter what. That's right. I'm not saying that sin carries with it no consequences. It does. I'm not saying God isn't heart-broken when we hurt others and ourselves with sin. He is. But these things exist as results, evidence, of his unfading love. "For those whom the Lord loves he disciplines" writes the author of Hebrews.

Wrap your mind around this main thought. God loves you. He wants the best for you. It matters to him how you turn out. He hurts when you hurt. He cringes when you suffer. He sheds tears when he sees sin chipping away at your soul. But he doesn't stop his love.

Sometimes we want to cut him out of the picture. We don't believe it...we can't imagine someone who accepts us unconditionally. God will. He'll stick with you through struggles. He'll back you up through injustice. He'll strengthen you during weak moments. Trust him by letting him love you.

Knowing Jesus

2006-11-10T10:30:00.000-06:00

A quest...that's what you could call it. I've embarked on a journey, though it may take the rest of my life, to know Jesus. Yes, yes, I know, it sounds trite. "Aren't we all wanting to know Jesus?", you ask. Sure. But how far are you willing to take it?

I'm finding out more and more that investigating the real Jesus poses a significant threat to my comfort. You can't know him and not get sucked in. You can't admire him and not change. You can't get a grip on what he was about and feel secure.

He endured the cross for a reason. "For sins!", you say. Ok, yes, for sins. But don't forget that his condemnation to a cross resulted from his actions as a man. He had an agenda. He exposed people. He walked the talk. He enraged many. Still want to follow him? Still want to risk safety and security to follow his steps?

The more I see Jesus, the more I see danger ahead. The more I see rejection. The more I see...that I've got along way to go.

Making it a Habit

2006-11-09T15:47:00.000-06:00

I have committed to posting something, anything on my blog at least five times a week (Monday through Friday). Now that something might consist of a mere sentence or something greater in size. But I will post something.

Today, well, time slips away. And I guess that's the thought...time slips away. What will you do with it?

I'll Start Here

2006-11-08T09:10:00.000-06:00

I increasingly hurt at how people simply can't get along. And over the silliest things... To many unity and harmony demands conformity. But I won't buy that assumption. We can disagree and remain bonded.

My dearest friends and I have engaged some knock down, drag out fights with each other...then hugged and told each other how much we love the other. We left the ordeal still in disagreement but still wholly committed to each other. And that's where it has to start...with a commitment to unity and harmony with a foundation of humility and meekness supporting our relational commitments. Or...they won't work.

People, if they fail to start at commitment and humility, will botch their relationships, get mad, blow up and annihilate relationships that meant so much to them and those involved. It truly hurts to see us supplant and uproot human dignity and integrity because we can't simply say "I'll start here...I'm committed to this relationship. I know we'll disagree and I will often be wrong. No matter what...I love you."

It's Quick

2006-11-07T09:25:00.000-06:00

I ponder a lot about what happens behind the scenes. You know, I don't know the ins and outs of it all. But Satan exists. He doesn't like us. Evil often prevails.

What gets to me on occasion is the swiftness with which things can go the way of hell. It's quick. Out of nowhere, events transpire that chalk another one up for team evil. They've scored again. Like a trick play, a fake punt, they've slapped on 62 yards in one play for a touchdown. What?!

Ok, perhaps we bring some of the drama on ourselves. But I'm convinced other forces scrap together new game plans every day. So in the words of Peter..."Be on alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Mad at Gravity

2006-08-21T09:21:00.000-05:00

I love Launchcast Radio offered by Yahoo! Music. People can usually hear it blaring when they enter my office. The other day the band Mad at Gravity popped up on my player. I immediately wrote down their name because it struck a chord in me.

Mad at gravity? How odd. Isn’t it very funny and very obvious that those mad at gravity can do nothing about it? But so goes life… People (include me here too) often fume at those things out of their control. In essence we give the power to those things as simple and uncontrollable as gravity.

Let’s take back the power to decide our emotions. Let’s not allow things beyond our sphere of control to dictate our feelings. Let it go, there’s nothing we can do. Why get mad at gravity?

Rescue in Prayer

2006-08-15T09:47:00.000-05:00

I freeze. Stop. Pause.
The words don’t come.
Here for a cause.
To tell him just some
Of the things he’s made
Possible in my life
But thoughts on parade
To create great strife
Inside my heart.
Confusion and hesitation;
Where to start?
Oh, the frustration…

But then I stop in confidence
With reason for ponder.
Thanks to the Spirit he sent—
My God doesn’t have to wonder.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts know the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. –Paul.

Why Won't You Die?

2006-08-08T09:53:00.000-05:00

You’re no friend, but I know you well.
You’ve come my way, a ticket from Hell.
I hate that you have arrived;
It hurts to see that you're alive.
You will not die.

You haunt the steps I take today
And cast shadows over what lights my way.
I’ve tried to arrange your final breath,
But you refuse to accept your death.
You will not die.

Relationships I own, you taint and mar.
With each heart I touch, you leave a scar.
I can’t escape your damaging lust;
I scream, “Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust!”
Will you ever die?

You’re the reality I’d rather forget—
The terrible thing inside my closet.
What you bring I’ve left behind,
But here you are inside my mind!
You must die.

You slow me down in my hurry;
Provoke the rage within my fury.
Hell’s the play in which you’re cast,
And your starring role is my Past.
Why won’t you die?

Don't Expect Too Much of God?

2006-07-12T21:40:00.000-05:00

I heard a fascinating insight today. The point that struck me instructed that one of our greatest obstacles to experiencing the awe and wonder of God lies in our low expectations of him. Wow.

Never thinking of it in quite that way, the truth of it slapped me extremely hard. How many times do my actions say, "God, I got this one" or "Leave it to me, Lord"? Or when we hear of a tragedy we express sentiments like "What can I do?" or "How can I help?" We really don't expect too much from God, do we?

Sure, he bails us out on occasion, but only when we've really hit rock bottom. A realization... I'm in desperate need of a reawakening to the fact that I'm nothing without God. He can work great things through me, but I must put him to work in my life through trust in him, prayer to him and reliance on him.

God hasn't abandoned his work of reconciliation and merely left it to us. He is, though, waiting for you and I to put him to work in our part of the story. I'm convinced that once I let him get involved, the awe and wonder will never stop!

Moved

2006-06-07T12:02:00.000-05:00

I just spent May moving and transitioning into a new work at the Eastern Hills church of Christ in Marshall, TX. I'm working with families and youth. I believe it will present challenges that will keep my leaning on Jesus. It excites me to contemplate the opportunities I'll have to bring Jesus into lives that need him.

Trust me, I'm not giving up on this blogging thing. I am asking for some patience as I get settled in to my new life.

Oh yeah, Ashley and I finally bought a house! First time! It rocked!

Keep checking back...

Collective Transformation

2006-04-28T14:58:00.000-05:00

Bible study consumes a big part of my life. Yet I often pull my hair out in frustration. Alone, spiritual growth comes to me like my two-year old who just spotted a playground—not easily.

However, once I take my struggles and questions to other Christians the dust settles. Spiritual growth, for me, tends to happen in a group. A collective effort gracefully clears the hurdles that usually trip up a one-track mind. Why?

Others have endured different experiences than I have. They have arrived from different backgrounds, studied different disciplines and witnessed different events. Those variances offer new insight to a study, forcing me to open my eyes and see things from a different angle, unlocking the door that I couldn’t open before.

The Bible doesn’t discourage personal study and growth, but it does offer an alternative, and maybe better, approach. Notice “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42). Together, the new church pursued spiritual transformation.

The church should take seriously the importance of gathering around the table. Just remember, the menu isn’t limited to potluck.

Tell Me the Real Story of Jesus

2006-04-20T10:49:00.000-05:00

Lately, I've tore through article after article, book after book trying to understand all the hype associated with The Da Vinci Code, The Gospel of Judas, et. al. I try to stay on top of this type of news. Anything undermining the claims of the traditional understanding of Jesus gets my attention.

I've discovered it helps to remember the following few points when considering the Da Vinci hype, Gnosticism or any other ancient text reported to debunk the claims of Jesus of Nazareth or supply a fresh spin on him.

The Gnostic texts like those in the Nag Hammadi Library, along with The Gospel of Judas, date later than the four gospels. In other words, they weren’t original teachings on par with the now canonical gospels, they came later--they represent offshoots of Christianity not origins. Jesus' followers embraced his divinity long before many of the Gnostic sects downplayed it (cf. Philippians 2:5-11).

Also, the Gnostic texts give little attention to the 1st century Jewish social context in which Jesus ministered. This seems odd if they are earlier than the four, which do. The "alternative" Christian texts offer up a type of platonic format of isolated sayings and disconnected teachings as opposed to the narrative style of the four canonical gospels. Just read them, you'll see the difference.

Not only are they later, they greatly contradict many of the teachings found in the earlier sources. They flip the script on the good news of Jesus (found in the four canonical gospels) and promote a kind of good advice offered up by a good, moral man. In fact, if these new discoveries represent origins of Christianity, one has to wonder what made Christianity such a fuss.

And, what stirred up Rome so much in the first and second centuries? Did Caesar feel the threat of a unique teacher offering some spiritual advice? Or, was it the message of a risen King to whom the world owed allegiance, a Jew who embodied divine nature? History details the brutal persecutions some Roman emperors unleashed on disciples of Jesus. Now, which story of Jesus do you think got under their skin?

You Choose

2006-04-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

The world has witnessed a fair amount of manipulation and intimidation. World and religious leaders have used various cult-like pressures and propaganda to forcibly indoctrinate masses of people with their agenda. And those who feel such pressure to choose a choice not their own usually respond in rebellion. Typically, humans aren't forced into a mold easily.

The Christian God has received blame for this type of behavior. Through his brain-washed people, he plants fear and terror into the hearts of the world, leaving no choice but to serve his selfish and egotistical whims. He let's nobody think for themselves; just buy it, swallow it or else. Well...that's the charge. What about it, though?

Personally, I like freedom. I like to make up my own mind and not have it made up for me. I think some choices are better than others. In fact, some are flat out bad. Right exists and so does wrong. Which, by the way, seems obvious enough to simply state though you may disagree. God, then, has made himself available, approachable and findable. However, don't expect him to jerk you up by the collar, grab your cheeks and say "Look at me!" No, God's not that way.

If your desire is for him, if you realize he contains life's answers and that he offers the only genuine hope then go after it. You're on the right track. If not, though, nobody, not even God himself, will make you embrace something you won't embrace on your own. God invites, he doesn't pull.

The God of the Bible, of Christianity, isn't an intimidating terrorist (though, I admit, some have acted despicably in his name). He has laid out the truth. He revealed it in Jesus. But it's yours to accept. I haven't read about the God of the Bible wanting robotic, thoughtless conformity. He loves us enough to let us choose to love him (granted, he has given good reason to do so).

Power gathers slaves...love attracts willing devotion. Hitler had power. God is love.

To Jarret. From Daddy.

2006-03-29T13:37:00.000-06:00

Today my wife and I helped our oldest son (9) set up his first email account. He's excited to get to converse back and forth with some of his friends. Personally, it's a bit scary because of all the online dangers. This moment brings new challenges to our faith and his innocence. Mindful of these thoughts I wrote him an inaugural email.

Below I've pasted the email I sent to him. He's a great kid and I want to share him with you (if you don't mind a proud father).

Please pray for him, but not just him; please pray for all of our children in today's world who face new monsters creeping out from the closet every day. We can't know how many more dark foes may emerge from the shadows of our culture. Anymore, it's not just what's under the bed that children need to worry about. So pray all the more. We have a war to fight.

Jarret,

You make me so proud. I love your honesty and the fact that you love people—you want to be around them, play with friends. Don’t ever give up your genuine concern for others. Even though sometimes your questions fly at me to the point of exhaustion, don’t stop asking them.

I know you’re excited about your new email account. But, I hope that you will use the internet as a tool to think, study and research. Watch out, though, because it can present some very serious dangers. That’s why mom and I want you to only go to those specific sites we have given you. Don’t press on a link if you don’t know what it is about.

Son, about Christianity, always strive to follow Jesus and not me, momma, or anyone else. Give people the respect and attention they deserve, but only follow them if they follow Jesus. I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning, but that is what God expects. The focus of Christianity isn’t a know-it-all attitude. Your father in heaven wants you to love him and love people—to try everyday to live out his will. God will be fair, honest and the judge of all. We need to stay satisfied with pointing the way to him and not pointing our finger in everyone’s faces. If people do something you don’t personally feel is right, think about it, look at their point of view and perhaps present your side of it too. But don’t write them off. Try to work with them and understand that we’re all struggling to bring honor to God.

However, there will come times when people do things that are wrong. Love them and help them. Those things that God calls wrong are those things which keep us from becoming the people he wants us to be. So when you realize that someone is being destroyed by sin, firmly and lovingly “restore” him (read Galatians 6:1-10 after you read this email).

You may not understand everything I’m trying to say and that’s ok. Just know that I love you no matter what. I don’t care what you decide to do with your life as long as you present yourself to God completely. I also want you to know that I’m sorry for those times that, as a parent, I mess up. I make some bad mistakes in how I handle you sometimes, but I can rest at ease knowing that your heart is bigger than my stupidity. It’s so wonderful that I have a son that is in many respects a better person than I. Thank you for bringing me such happiness and hope.

Daddy

Where Did the Last Month Go?

2006-03-24T09:29:00.000-06:00

I'm sitting here thinking how it's been nearly a month since I've posted anything. Here's my reaction. It's a shame when I don't have time to write down a few thoughts of reflection on a regular basis. I mean, that's the idea of a blog, right?

My thought for this post points tothe amazing ability we have to make ourselves so busy. We have the ease and quickness of modern convenience (faster food, quick pass gas cards, instant everything, etc.), but we've managed to make ourselves the busiest people in the world. We've defied time with our speedy solutions and, yet, it still masters us. I'm the world's worst at losing the battle to time, at least, from my perspective.

Will you join with me in an attempt to slow down? Focus on eternal matters? Pay attention to important things? Cherish the time God grants? Push the pause button of life?

If we won't, then, I fear our time will run out and we'll be too busy to notice.

Time for Others

2006-02-16T12:29:00.000-06:00

Jesus issued two great commandments—love God and love people (Matthew 22:37-39). However, the two directives are inseparable. You can’t love God and not people. You can’t love people and not God. If you don’t love people, then you don’t love God. And I’m convinced, if your love for people doesn’t stem from your love for God then it lacks.

So, I have a confession to make. I’ve done a poor job of loving people. Study. Read. Write. These disciplines involving my personal love for God have, in some sense, consumed my life. Someone may say, but that’s great. But he’s wrong if in doing these things I’ve neglected to make time for others. Remember, I can’t love God and not love people. And love gives time.

Jesus devoted his life to a passion for the Father, but he expressed his passion for the father in his dedication to people. You just can’t get around it. Now, I’m not negating the necessary time for study and prayer—far from it. But study and prayer should weave tightly into our dedication to loving people.

God’s nature demands my worship, but I offer meaningless worship if I don’t have a heart for people. Listen to what God told some claiming to love him with their worship, yet showed little concern for justice in human relationships:

I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:21-24)

Okay, all of this stuff seems easy to say, and it is. But truly carving out time for people and devoting effort to their welfare doesn’t come naturally in the look-out-for-number-one, individualistic culture of the west. You and I will have to get real…and really messy. People have issues. Some people struggle with “dirty” sins. Some have battles we can’t imagine. But all have available the hope provided in the empty tomb. Now is the time to reenact for hurting people the love Jesus conveyed to the woman at the well.

Love God and love people. So simple. So complex. So balanced.

House of Stone

2006-01-30T13:22:00.000-06:00

The church is a building. Whoa, if I said that to my boy he’d quickly rake me over the coals for being so dense. “Daddy,” he’d counter “you’re wrong. The church is the people. It’s Christians!” And, he’s right. But, so am I.

Peter discloses to us that “living stones” characterizing Christians “are being built up as a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). The church is a building, and Christians (living stones) are the material. From this perspective, my son and I both have it right.

In Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit descended to Jerusalem, the apostles recognized that moment as the kingdom of God coming with power (see Mark 9:1; Acts 2:1-4). They had anticipated this day since their first lessons with Jesus. While on earth, he repeatedly forecasted the near arrival of the kingdom. On that day, the day of Pentecost after Christ’s death, the kingdom arrived.

How do we know? One, Joel’s prophecy about the kingdom era found fulfillment (Acts 2:16). Two, Jesus had taken his seat next to the Father to reign (33-36). Three, sinners found redemption through appeal and obedience to the Messiah (37-38). Finally, the saved were placed together by God (47). Acts 2 unveils the first occurrence of God rescuing sinners from the domain of darkness and transferring them into the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

That’s the day God began building his house of stone. Jesus claimed, on the basis of his deity, he would under gird this house (the kingdom) as the chief cornerstone (Matthew 16:16-18; see also 1 Peter 2:6-8). As sinners place their faith in Christ as God’s saving Son and build upon that foundation through obedience, they transform into living stones. God then adds them to his house. Consequently, God’s house grows as sinners accept and obey the Christ.

I once heard a preacher describe in a sermon how this house contains no roof. As long as living stones multiply, the walls of this house will continue to extend endlessly. That leaves room for all sinners. Everyone owns the opportunity to become a stone in a wall of God’s house.

To understand the church in this manner would clarify countless misunderstandings. The house of stone typifies God’s church (see also 1 Timothy 3:15). The material utilized in the building of this house is living stones—Christians. If a humble and penitent sinner approaches God in faith and satisfies the conditions of salvation then that sinner becomes a living stone set in the house of God.

Pain--An Unsung Hero

2006-01-17T15:20:00.000-06:00

Little Ashlyn Blocker can't feel the pain that would make the toughest men in the world cry out loud. She has a rare genetic disorder (congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis, or CIPA), which hindered the development of her nerves that carry pain senses to the brain. (You can search for her story on Google).

She has eaten through her tongue and severely burned her hand not realizing it rested on an extremely hot pressure washer. Ashlyn runs the risk of slurping down scolding hot soup that could irreparably damage her throat. Pain is no friend to Ashlyn; it's a stranger she'll never meet.

Some might venture to assume Ashlyn's numbness as a blessing, but not Ashlyn nor her parents. She lives her life on constant tragedy alert. Her parents have to monitor her every move. At any moment she could kill herself because pain doesn't hang around warning her to stop hurting herself.

Pain, an unsung hero...

Countless lives have escaped death because of pain. One day your right side begins to hurt terribly, you go to the doctor, discover you have appendicitis, take care of it and go home; not Ashlyn and those like her. They die never to realize what took them.

Pain warns, strengthens, develops, teaches and saves people. God's blessings include pain. James discussed how the pain of trials should find welcome among Christians (James 1:2-3). Through various pains, emotional or physical, people experience spiritual refinement.

Atheists would say that the harsh realities of pain bolster their argument that a loving God doesn't exist or he'd eliminate pain.

Why don't they ask Ashlyn how she feels about that?

Playing Along

2006-01-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

Hello…you there? Anybody there? Oh, there you are. Uh, I’m sorry I must have the wrong place. No? I didn’t recognize you.

What’s that? You didn’t want me to see you this way? Oh, I came at a bad time. Okay…fine, I’ll come back when you’re ready—when you have better time to prepare.

I have to say that you fooled me, but in a way it was nice. I mean, I felt like I really…anyway…I understand.

Before I go—I know you want me to turn around—why haven’t I ever seen you before now? You…you haven’t, you’re not yourself? Somebody else? What about the face I see…I’m sorry; you’re really uncomfortable…I should be going.

What was that? You don’t have to apologize. I was really hoping to get to know you…oh, you don’t…sure, no problem. Well, it was really good to meet you.

Yeah, tell him I dropped in and I’ll see him later.

Contemplating...

2005-12-30T12:52:00.000-06:00

A friend of mine recently typed the following prayer. I share it with you and hope that you embrace its honesty.

Heavenly Father,

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

Amen, and happy new year!

It's not everyday...

2005-12-19T16:23:00.000-06:00

It's not everyday that I experience somebody, in a moment of brilliance, say something so profound that a few simple words cause my world to lose its pulse for a few seconds. But today surprised me with one of those rare occurrences.

A good friend of mine, Doug Young, sheds light on something so true and real that I can't do anything more than recommend his article.

I beg you to click this link and read for yourself:

http://howbeitforthiscause.blogspot.com/2005/12/how-to-make-yourself-feel-small.html

Candy, Earplugs and Hermeneutics

2005-12-13T20:57:00.000-06:00

Earlier tonight, my delighted daughter and youngest son ran up to me declaring that I open up a small plastic package. Their excitement indicated one thing—they had scored some candy! I grabbed the package, wondering how they smuggled contraband into my house, only to discover a small package of orange, foam earplugs. That’s right, earplugs.

My children see everything through their craving for candy. The battle against their addiction begins every year about October 31st. So until September, my wife and I struggle to put our children through candy rehabilitation. They have it so bad that pencils look like pixi-sticks and every plastic wrapping contains a sweet surprise.

So, as I sat in my chair laughing about the moment I thought, wow, we adults do the same thing. No, not with candy, but we envision events and circumstances through our biases and preconceived notions. Also, I thought, some read their preexisting ideas and convictions into the Bible. Every passage and context funnels through their prior judgments and conclusions.

Hermeneutics is a fancy word for the science of interpretation. I admit, it’s a bit much for a title, but the word is shorter than its definition. Anyway…back on track…when we apply our interpretive skills to the Bible one of the most difficult challenges presented is to stay objective and focused without the influence of personal bias.

Jesus spoke highly of those who embraced the word with “honest and good hearts” (Luke 8:15). Honest seekers of truth refuse to project their culture into the world of the first century. They demand to see the real Jesus and not the one they’ve created or others have concocted. When it comes to what God wants, it stays with what God wants and not what they perceive him to desire through their religious or personal persuasions.

Dishonest Bible interpreters will find things in the Bible that don’t exist, sealing the deal on a spiritual catastrophe. They only see what they want to see. I think you can understand the disaster this hallucination can incur.

My children saw one thing in that small plastic bag—candy! However, had I let them act on that persistent desire causing them to see the earplugs as candy corn, the Heimlich maneuver would have certainly ensued. As their father, I’m glad that reality prevailed.

Simple Obedience

2005-12-05T13:59:00.000-06:00

I used to tell people if they simply serve God of necessity then they shouldn’t bother. In other words, “Don’t practice the religion of Christianity because you have to; do it because you want to.” Rethinking this position, I’ve adjusted my advice a little, though I recognize that this advice upholds a superlative motivation. Nonetheless, listen to what Jesus says:

“If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14).

These two statements exhibit the following realities. Jesus commands. And, following those commandments expresses a love for him. Doing what Jesus commands can never be wrong. Certainly people will answer for their motivations, but I’m not venturing into that arena. However, I’ve felt the pressure from reading and listening to some Christian educators that Christian obedience should be a result of gushing gratitude for God’s grace, and not performed out of a shallow obligation to God’s sovereignty. Again, I agree we should serve God out of thanksgiving and appreciation. However, I wonder if times ever arise where obedience is purely a matter of obligation?

What about those days when you don’t feel like it? Can we all be honest and admit that sometimes we don’t feel like obeying or following a particular commandment—days when worldly pressures and stress have overshadowed our gratitude? Is there ever a time when you’re not overwhelmed with joy and excitement about attending worship hours, evangelizing, reading the Bible, extending kindness or visiting someone who needs comfort? Are there ever moments when singing praises doesn’t light your fire? Yes, these feelings creep into all of our lives.

Should we enjoy and want to follow the Lord’s commands? Yes, but reality maintains that we don’t always posses that type of gusto. Now, before I lose you, let me explain that some people who experience these moments of religious hesitancy simply go ahead and obey God anyway. That’s right. Despite the tiredness or lack of enthusiasm they trek on in simple obedience to God. Why?—because that’s what God wants them to do.

Someone says, “These people are nothing but robots, lost in their habitual and rote spiritual exercises. They don’t possess genuine love for God.” Not too long ago I would have probably agreed, but now…well, things have changed. Allow me to explain why. Look at the statements of Jesus again found in John 14 and 15. Love serves as the basis for obedience. A desire to obtain friendship with Jesus functions as a motivation to do what he says. I argue that love for Christ trumps fleeting emotionalism or surging enthusiasm when it comes to obedience. That’s why some seem to serve God without an ounce of emotion or excitement. You’d think that their religion is empty. But if you were to peer inside of them, you’d find at their core a resolve permeating with love for Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong, obedience can be offered without any substance. But, what’s wrong with serving Christ because that’s what he wants? What’s wrong with doing the right thing even when maybe you don’t feel like it? Look, what I’m trying to say is there’s something to be said about simple obedience. Doing what Jesus says just because he said it serves as a good enough reason to obey.

King Saul seemed to crave extravagance in his service to God. The king really wanted to let God know just how much he loved him. So he spared the best of the sheep and oxen from the spoil of his victory over the Amalekites in order to offer them to the Lord. God would want the best! Or, so he thought. God had told Saul to destroy everything and keep nothing. Saul reacted to an emotional moment to go beyond his duty. He thought that God wouldn’t mind his heartfelt and willing sacrifice. He had never been more wrong. God only desired his obedience.

God, through Samuel rebuked Saul with these words: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he also has rejected you from being king” (1 Samuel 15:22-23).

Here’s my question: How could I ever tell a person “Don’t serve God because you have to….” when in fact, it’s the simple case that he has to? I think, in a sense, we’ve sold out the importance of simple obedience and have undermined the rule of Jesus. Obedience is more than a reaction to saving grace; it’s the proper response to a sovereign God!

Should we want to do the things Jesus has asked us to do? Absolutely! However, I’m afraid that many things would continue unfinished if people postponed their obedience until they felt like it. Keep it simple—if you love Jesus, do what he says no matter what.

I didn't want to, but...thanks Sam.

2005-12-02T13:06:00.000-06:00

With my last post, I received a few comments. I appreciated so much the first comment from Brian. I thought to myself, "Wow, Josh, you're really something!" And, to my pleasant surprise, I checked and "Yes! Another comment." As I clicked on the link to enjoy reading my praises, the feeling expanded inside of me that a child experiences when daddy pulls out the big present on Christmas. I couldn't wait to see what new ego inflating flattery awaited my eyes.

Click. It opened and...gulp. Like a jack-in-the-box humility popped up and laid the smack down on me. The cloud I had been walking on dissipated and I fell to the floor...thud. Wounded, I finished reading Sam Dilbeck's suggestion that I go and check the context of Isaiah 55 because I may have inappropriately applied verse 8.

I didn't want to. I wanted to retaliate with a reactionary response like "the passage says what it says--duh!" But, I didn't. Like a whipped puppy I went and did what I should have done initially. I read the context. And guess what? I had taken a passage of scripture out of its surroundings and affected its meaning. Something that irks me when others do it!

The point of my article continues to illustrate God's incomprehensible nature and acts of grace, but the verse in Isaiah doesn't support that idea in the way I portrayed it. God's thoughts and ways do reside above man's (as far as heaven is above the earth, Isaiah 55:9), but the point of verse 8 should prompt man to pursue the lofty nature of God's thoughts and ways. The plight of those in Isaiah's day settled on the fact that they had developed lives in distinct opposition to God's purposes. And so, to accept the gracious invitation offered at the beginning of chapter 55, the people of Israel were encouraged to forsake their ways and thoughts (55:7) because they weren't in line with God's.

I didn't want to put forth the effort to go and discover I had used God's word out of place. I didn't want to face my failure and admit my mistake. At first I had wished Sam would have left it at "Great Illustration." But Sam is a Christian and a friend. I've claimed to want it real when it comes to Christianity, and this experience didn't let me down. Sharing this recent eye-opener has hopefully painted for you a picture of realistic Christianity.

So, thanks Sam. You gave me a dose of realistic Christianity that was long overdue.

Jumbo Jets and the Almighty

2005-11-29T22:36:00.000-06:00

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

2005-11-23T16:35:00.000-06:00

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

2005-11-22T10:56:00.000-06:00

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

2005-11-21T19:40:00.000-06:00

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

2005-11-17T12:55:00.000-06:00

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.