The joy of The Lord is our strength.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
- Romans 6:8
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
- 2 Corinthian 5:15
Monday, May 31, 2010
The habits we break, the habits we make
Making the decision to follow and live as Christ intended isn't something you do once and then go on your merry way. Following Christ becomes your Number One Priority ... a commitment every day, every minute and every second.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Ephesians 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Ephesians 4:22-24
Sunday, May 30, 2010
"God loves me and wants to agree with me."
The other night on a TV talk show, in the wake of a recent popular poll, the moderator asked his two guests their opinions about what was moral, and what was immoral.
When the question of abortion came up one of the guests answered, "It's one of those subjects that's up to each person to decide for themselves whether it's immoral or not." In other words "What's right for me may not be right for you."
That logic just doesn't wash: Saying "There are no absolute morals" is like saying "What's true for you isn't true for me."
But if "There is no universal truth" is true then that's a universal truth, and your statement contradicts itself: if "What's true for you isn't true for me" is true then what you just said isn't true for me. Which means the statement "There is no universal truth" is false.
------
- from January 21, 2009
When the question of abortion came up one of the guests answered, "It's one of those subjects that's up to each person to decide for themselves whether it's immoral or not." In other words "What's right for me may not be right for you."
That logic just doesn't wash: Saying "There are no absolute morals" is like saying "What's true for you isn't true for me."
But if "There is no universal truth" is true then that's a universal truth, and your statement contradicts itself: if "What's true for you isn't true for me" is true then what you just said isn't true for me. Which means the statement "There is no universal truth" is false.
------
- from January 21, 2009
Our culture is vexed with the notion of "Choice." We're encouraged to Have It Your Way in every respect ... even if that means being disrespectful. Go ahead, express yourself!
Who can say you're wrong? Everybody's personal opinion is as worthwhile and valid as anyone else's.
After all, since everything's relative it's your right to chose anything ... from choosing whether to add bacon to your burger, to use profanity in public, to lie if it's convenient, to have sex outside of marriage, to kill an unborn child, on down to whether or not God exists: It's Your Choice.
Folks therefore feel empowered to choose what God said, and often take this approach: "I already know what I like and since I'm basically a smart, hard-to-fool Good Person, that gives me a pretty good handle on what God's like: God's a lot like me."
Their reasoning goes like this:
- I don't see anything wrong about being gay, so God must not either.
- I don't think people go to hell if they don't accept Christ, so God must not either.
- I don't think tithing applies to the New Covenant, so God must not either.
- I don't like organized religion, so God must not either.
- I don't think my private sins are a big deal, so God must not either.
- I don't know what happens when you die, so God must not either.
- I'm not sure Jesus is the only way to Heaven, so God must not be either.
But here's the kick in the gut:
- " I don't like people telling me about sin, salvation and being born again ... so God must not either."
Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,
to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
'What are you making?'
Does your work say,
'He has no hands'?
to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
'What are you making?'
Does your work say,
'He has no hands'?
- Isaiah 45:9
Friday, May 28, 2010
Prayer Code Talking (updated)
I'm writing this at 2:13AM because it was very hot today and I've got an air-conditioning issue (that's code talk for "My AC is broke.")
The 27-year old air conditioner worked fine so far this season, but today the little 8000btu central unit only managed to lower the cabin's temperature about 5 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature outside, which the helm thermometer indicated had soared past 101.7F by 3PM.
Not only was I hot, but the AC was leaking water into the cabin and soaking the carpet.
Just like it had toward the end of last year.
Tonight I determined to finally fix it, and found out the problem is a clogged drain pan. It only took me 9 months (and 3 weeks of soaked carpet and standing water last summer) to diagnose the problem.
Tonight I'm gonna pray about how to fix it, cause I've got a total shortage of good ideas.
I did pray about it the next morning, and then I grabbed my tools and stuck both hands into the air conditioner cabinet and kept feeling around until I found the problem.
It turned out that since I'd removed the cabinet door to let a service technician recharge the refrigerant, without the cabinet door put back in place warm humid air was being sucked in around the evaporator ... and promptly condensed like the sweat on the outside of an iced tea glass, eventually forming the puddles leaking into the cabin. Yes, I screwed the cabinet door back in place and that fixed it.
--
Ever noticed how often we pray for favors, blessings, gifts and miracles ... or for things to just generally go our way? We don't like to admit how seldom we approach God in prayer and ask him what we can do for him, so we might be in the habit of disguising our prayers in reverent, worshipful-sounding code talk ... as if The Creator can't tell what's on our minds and is clueless about what's really inside our hearts.
Here's a few examples.
Code: Lord I'm ready to settle down and commit to a long-term monogamous relationship that will eventually lead to marriage, so please send the man (or woman) you planned for me to be with to my front door.
Translation: I'm at the bottom of the dating barrel and I've started thinking Nobody will ever marry me and that I'm not worth being loved. Plus, I don't have the money to buy new clothes and keep going to singles bars.
Lord please heal my finances and let thy bounty and thine abundance shower down upon me.
Uh oh, my MasterCard bill came in the mail today.
Lord please guide and reveal yourself at my church so that they may get back on track and follow your will.
I got asked to volunteer and have used up all my best excuses.
Lord please reveal yourself to my boss, so that he may recognize and finally repent of his evil ways and be saved.
I've already told everybody at work what a jerk the boss is ... and I'm pretty sure he found out.
Lord please bless this food, and we thank thee for thy bounty and for thy blessings.
Translation: I hope there's nothing on my plate that's gone bad and ends up sending me to the hospital.
Lord please show yourself and spread your word so that sinners around the world will hear it.
I'm too busy with my own plans to do it.
Lord if you'll just do this one thing, I'll start going to church, start reading my Bible, stop sinning and I'll do whatever you want me to do with my life.
No I won't.
The 27-year old air conditioner worked fine so far this season, but today the little 8000btu central unit only managed to lower the cabin's temperature about 5 degrees cooler than the ambient temperature outside, which the helm thermometer indicated had soared past 101.7F by 3PM.
Not only was I hot, but the AC was leaking water into the cabin and soaking the carpet.
Just like it had toward the end of last year.
Tonight I determined to finally fix it, and found out the problem is a clogged drain pan. It only took me 9 months (and 3 weeks of soaked carpet and standing water last summer) to diagnose the problem.
Tonight I'm gonna pray about how to fix it, cause I've got a total shortage of good ideas.
I did pray about it the next morning, and then I grabbed my tools and stuck both hands into the air conditioner cabinet and kept feeling around until I found the problem.
It turned out that since I'd removed the cabinet door to let a service technician recharge the refrigerant, without the cabinet door put back in place warm humid air was being sucked in around the evaporator ... and promptly condensed like the sweat on the outside of an iced tea glass, eventually forming the puddles leaking into the cabin. Yes, I screwed the cabinet door back in place and that fixed it.
--
Ever noticed how often we pray for favors, blessings, gifts and miracles ... or for things to just generally go our way? We don't like to admit how seldom we approach God in prayer and ask him what we can do for him, so we might be in the habit of disguising our prayers in reverent, worshipful-sounding code talk ... as if The Creator can't tell what's on our minds and is clueless about what's really inside our hearts.
Here's a few examples.
Code: Lord I'm ready to settle down and commit to a long-term monogamous relationship that will eventually lead to marriage, so please send the man (or woman) you planned for me to be with to my front door.
Translation: I'm at the bottom of the dating barrel and I've started thinking Nobody will ever marry me and that I'm not worth being loved. Plus, I don't have the money to buy new clothes and keep going to singles bars.
Lord please heal my finances and let thy bounty and thine abundance shower down upon me.
Uh oh, my MasterCard bill came in the mail today.
Lord please guide and reveal yourself at my church so that they may get back on track and follow your will.
I got asked to volunteer and have used up all my best excuses.
Lord please reveal yourself to my boss, so that he may recognize and finally repent of his evil ways and be saved.
I've already told everybody at work what a jerk the boss is ... and I'm pretty sure he found out.
Lord please bless this food, and we thank thee for thy bounty and for thy blessings.
Translation: I hope there's nothing on my plate that's gone bad and ends up sending me to the hospital.
Lord please show yourself and spread your word so that sinners around the world will hear it.
I'm too busy with my own plans to do it.
Lord if you'll just do this one thing, I'll start going to church, start reading my Bible, stop sinning and I'll do whatever you want me to do with my life.
No I won't.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
"Jesus, wanna come visit MY church?"
Imagine Christ showed up at your doorstep one Sunday morning and you invited him to visit your church.
As you pulled into the parking lot you'd point to a certain spot and say, "There's my parking space. It's got my name on the sign."
You might go to the corner of the building and point out the inscription on the cornerstone. "See? My name's written on the dedication."
Once inside the vestibule you could show him the stained glass window featuring your name and tell him, "I paid for that myself."
You might be a little angry to usher Jesus to your seat, only to find a visitor sitting in your pew. So you scowl and gesture to let the uninvited and unwelcome stranger know he and his family need to find seats somewhere else. Then you look back at Jesus and touch the brass plate bearing your name. You apologize to Christ on the visitor's behalf, "The nerve of some people. What's wrong with them?"
During the organ prelude you'd nudge Jesus and whisper, "I guess you know the church didn't budget enough for the new organ, so I made up the difference out of my own pocket. On top of what I'd already given so the choir could buy new robes" and when the offering plate comes around you wink at God's son, "I'm proud to say that I'm one of the biggest tithers here."
As the sermon began you might show Jesus your Bible and point to the cover. "I bought the nicest Bible I could find, and then paid extra to have my name embossed in gold letters on the front. See, I've had it five years and it's still in perfect condition without a mark on it anywhere."
After the service you'd let Jesus know whether or not you liked the sermon and then hurry to the line at the back door, "I want you to meet my pastor. I served on the search committee, but he wasn't my first choice. So I helped negotiate his salary down from what he wanted and ended up saving the church a lot of money. Still, I think we could've got somebody just as good for even less."
Outside again, hurrying Jesus back to your car so you can get to your favorite restaurant before the line gets too long, you skip pointing out the "God Is My Co-Pilot" sticker on the bumper. But as you start the engine you're suddenly curious about his impression and ask Christ, "So what did you think of my church?"
What if Jesus stopped and said, "I saw your parking space, your corner stone, your stained glass window, your pew, your organ, your choir robes and your Bible, and I just shook hands with your pastor. I saw your church but I must've missed something."
Puzzled, you shake your head and shrug, "What did I leave out?"
And Christ turns away from the building, away from your stained glass window, away from your pew and your personal parking space, looks you in the eye and asks, "Where is your cross?"
As you pulled into the parking lot you'd point to a certain spot and say, "There's my parking space. It's got my name on the sign."
You might go to the corner of the building and point out the inscription on the cornerstone. "See? My name's written on the dedication."
Once inside the vestibule you could show him the stained glass window featuring your name and tell him, "I paid for that myself."
You might be a little angry to usher Jesus to your seat, only to find a visitor sitting in your pew. So you scowl and gesture to let the uninvited and unwelcome stranger know he and his family need to find seats somewhere else. Then you look back at Jesus and touch the brass plate bearing your name. You apologize to Christ on the visitor's behalf, "The nerve of some people. What's wrong with them?"
During the organ prelude you'd nudge Jesus and whisper, "I guess you know the church didn't budget enough for the new organ, so I made up the difference out of my own pocket. On top of what I'd already given so the choir could buy new robes" and when the offering plate comes around you wink at God's son, "I'm proud to say that I'm one of the biggest tithers here."
As the sermon began you might show Jesus your Bible and point to the cover. "I bought the nicest Bible I could find, and then paid extra to have my name embossed in gold letters on the front. See, I've had it five years and it's still in perfect condition without a mark on it anywhere."
After the service you'd let Jesus know whether or not you liked the sermon and then hurry to the line at the back door, "I want you to meet my pastor. I served on the search committee, but he wasn't my first choice. So I helped negotiate his salary down from what he wanted and ended up saving the church a lot of money. Still, I think we could've got somebody just as good for even less."
Outside again, hurrying Jesus back to your car so you can get to your favorite restaurant before the line gets too long, you skip pointing out the "God Is My Co-Pilot" sticker on the bumper. But as you start the engine you're suddenly curious about his impression and ask Christ, "So what did you think of my church?"
What if Jesus stopped and said, "I saw your parking space, your corner stone, your stained glass window, your pew, your organ, your choir robes and your Bible, and I just shook hands with your pastor. I saw your church but I must've missed something."
Puzzled, you shake your head and shrug, "What did I leave out?"
And Christ turns away from the building, away from your stained glass window, away from your pew and your personal parking space, looks you in the eye and asks, "Where is your cross?"
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Making God make you happy
Lord, please help me lose five pounds before Friday. And please don't let my phone bill be more than $60 this month, Amen.
Bad things happen in life.
I don't mean not getting a much-anticipated pay raise or failing this semester's mid-term. And I'm not talking about being rejected by this week's once-in-a-lifetime girl or guy of our dreams (who we've been earnestly praying for at least 3 times so far this week).
I'm not referring either to speeding tickets we didn't deserve, surprises at the dentist's office or even to finding out that your spouse has been having an affair while transferring your life savings to a secret offshore account ... and who now says he or she is taking the kids and wants a divorce.
I'm talking about the things that happen that can make people despair ... and wonder if there's any point in going on living.
--
Sometimes situations seem to come out of nowhere and present themselves in such hugeness and with such urgency that we feel overwhelmed and stunned, completely at a loss for any reasonable explanation. When true calamities and disasters happen, it's likely that what most makes us feel so helpless is that we don't know why.
After all, we hadn't planned on that bad thing happening ... just as we hadn't expected that at 1:58 PM on Tuesday afternoon, life's rug would be pulled out from under our (clay) feet.
Why did God let that happen, or did we do something wrong? Aren't we just, righteous and church-going people?
--
We want to believe in a merciful and benevolent God who only exists to make us happy and to prove our faith, we say a 30 second prayer when there's something we really, really want for ourselves (and maybe put in a word or two for all the victims we see on TV somewhere around the world). When things are going good, we might even reward God for doing such a good job by dropping $5 or $10 bucks in the offering plate a couple of times a year.
Naturally, because we call ourselves Baptists or Methodists or Episcopalians or Catholics or Pentecostals (and because we attend the church that suits us best), we feel confident that God favors our religion above all others and so he must like us the best, too.
So when bad things happen, whether to us or to other people on the other side of the world, we might feel secure enough in our esteemed eternal status to think God owes us an explanation and also feel entitled to know why he didn't leap tall buildings in a single bound and arrive faster than a speeding bullet to save the day before anything bad happened.
It's as if we're demanding, "Lord, why are you falling down on the job ... or are you even paying attention?"
---
Some people argue that if a supernatural all-powerful and merciful God exists, then surely he'd have made himself known and prevented so many of the bad things that have occurred throughout the course of mankind's existence.
(That argument's weak, because we have no way of knowing the extent of God's intervention throughout history, just as we have no way of knowing how bad things in the past few thousand years might've been.)
Other folks, you might call them Lucky Charm Christians, treat God like he's the rabbit's food in their pocket they rub for good luck. They play "If I do this, then God will do that" games in order to keep God on their side and be assured of perpetual happiness, health, stability, longevity and wealth. Instead of worshiping the Creator, they've chosen to make the wish and happiness-drive god they want ... in other words, they worship a god created in their own image.
In conforming God to suit their expectations of "God giving me everything I deserve in life because I'm a Christian and God wants me to be happy" what those folks are saying is "I refuse to worship a God who doesn't give me what I want."
But the god of our selfish creation has nothing to do with the Creator of the universe, or with the Father revealed in Scripture, nor with the Almighty Living God who raised Christ from the grave.
"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.
"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
- Malachi 3:5-7
Bad things happen in life.
I don't mean not getting a much-anticipated pay raise or failing this semester's mid-term. And I'm not talking about being rejected by this week's once-in-a-lifetime girl or guy of our dreams (who we've been earnestly praying for at least 3 times so far this week).
I'm not referring either to speeding tickets we didn't deserve, surprises at the dentist's office or even to finding out that your spouse has been having an affair while transferring your life savings to a secret offshore account ... and who now says he or she is taking the kids and wants a divorce.
I'm talking about the things that happen that can make people despair ... and wonder if there's any point in going on living.
--
Sometimes situations seem to come out of nowhere and present themselves in such hugeness and with such urgency that we feel overwhelmed and stunned, completely at a loss for any reasonable explanation. When true calamities and disasters happen, it's likely that what most makes us feel so helpless is that we don't know why.
After all, we hadn't planned on that bad thing happening ... just as we hadn't expected that at 1:58 PM on Tuesday afternoon, life's rug would be pulled out from under our (clay) feet.
Why did God let that happen, or did we do something wrong? Aren't we just, righteous and church-going people?
--
We want to believe in a merciful and benevolent God who only exists to make us happy and to prove our faith, we say a 30 second prayer when there's something we really, really want for ourselves (and maybe put in a word or two for all the victims we see on TV somewhere around the world). When things are going good, we might even reward God for doing such a good job by dropping $5 or $10 bucks in the offering plate a couple of times a year.
Naturally, because we call ourselves Baptists or Methodists or Episcopalians or Catholics or Pentecostals (and because we attend the church that suits us best), we feel confident that God favors our religion above all others and so he must like us the best, too.
So when bad things happen, whether to us or to other people on the other side of the world, we might feel secure enough in our esteemed eternal status to think God owes us an explanation and also feel entitled to know why he didn't leap tall buildings in a single bound and arrive faster than a speeding bullet to save the day before anything bad happened.
It's as if we're demanding, "Lord, why are you falling down on the job ... or are you even paying attention?"
---
Some people argue that if a supernatural all-powerful and merciful God exists, then surely he'd have made himself known and prevented so many of the bad things that have occurred throughout the course of mankind's existence.
(That argument's weak, because we have no way of knowing the extent of God's intervention throughout history, just as we have no way of knowing how bad things in the past few thousand years might've been.)
Other folks, you might call them Lucky Charm Christians, treat God like he's the rabbit's food in their pocket they rub for good luck. They play "If I do this, then God will do that" games in order to keep God on their side and be assured of perpetual happiness, health, stability, longevity and wealth. Instead of worshiping the Creator, they've chosen to make the wish and happiness-drive god they want ... in other words, they worship a god created in their own image.
In conforming God to suit their expectations of "God giving me everything I deserve in life because I'm a Christian and God wants me to be happy" what those folks are saying is "I refuse to worship a God who doesn't give me what I want."
But the god of our selfish creation has nothing to do with the Creator of the universe, or with the Father revealed in Scripture, nor with the Almighty Living God who raised Christ from the grave.
"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the LORD Almighty.
"I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
- Malachi 3:5-7
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
I thought about this post for the past 24 hrs
... and scripture still says it best:
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. [emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Wow. And scripture says "any trouble" ... not "trouble except those resulting from sin, or the troubles of sinners."
Wow.
When God comforts us in our troubles, it's not for our benefit: it's so we can then comfort others in their troubles ... instead of withdrawing, griping, complaining, accusing and finding fault under every pebble and behind every corner.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. [emphasis added]
2 Corinthians 1:3-7
Wow. And scripture says "any trouble" ... not "trouble except those resulting from sin, or the troubles of sinners."
Wow.
When God comforts us in our troubles, it's not for our benefit: it's so we can then comfort others in their troubles ... instead of withdrawing, griping, complaining, accusing and finding fault under every pebble and behind every corner.
Monday, May 17, 2010
The Judas Christian (updated)
We all know about Judas.
Judas was the disciple who betrayed Christ to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver ... and afterward, realizing what he'd done and the terrible mistake he'd made, Judas hung himself. We all know about Judas because we think of him as the most vilified and evil figure in scripture.
After all, scripture tells us "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve."
We'd never let that happen, would be? We'd never betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver ... no way.
But we'd do it in a heart beat to date the guy or girl we've got a crush on when we know that person's not a believer; we'd do it to explode in anger and express our outrage because we're not getting our way or because the restaurant server's not delivering our food fast enough to suit us; we'd do it to avoid volunteering at church; we'd do it to flirt with a married co-worker; we'd do it to save on our taxes; we'd do it to catch a little late night porn on the web and we'd sure do it on Sunday mornings when the offering plate passes between our hands.
Thirty pieces of silver?
It's almost enough to make you think we'd betray Jesus ... and do, every day ... just because we think we can get away with it.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
- Matthew 23:29-32
Judas was the disciple who betrayed Christ to the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver ... and afterward, realizing what he'd done and the terrible mistake he'd made, Judas hung himself. We all know about Judas because we think of him as the most vilified and evil figure in scripture.
After all, scripture tells us "Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve."
We'd never let that happen, would be? We'd never betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver ... no way.
But we'd do it in a heart beat to date the guy or girl we've got a crush on when we know that person's not a believer; we'd do it to explode in anger and express our outrage because we're not getting our way or because the restaurant server's not delivering our food fast enough to suit us; we'd do it to avoid volunteering at church; we'd do it to flirt with a married co-worker; we'd do it to save on our taxes; we'd do it to catch a little late night porn on the web and we'd sure do it on Sunday mornings when the offering plate passes between our hands.
Thirty pieces of silver?
It's almost enough to make you think we'd betray Jesus ... and do, every day ... just because we think we can get away with it.
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!
- Matthew 23:29-32
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Rare Prayers
Lord please remove every obstacle in my life that prevents or distracts me from knowing you and from following your will, no matter what it might be.
Lord please expose and reveal my secret sin, because I am powerless to resist it by myself.
Lord please break apart everything that's kept me from hearing your word.
Lord please expose and reveal my secret sin, because I am powerless to resist it by myself.
Lord please break apart everything that's kept me from hearing your word.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Pleasure Principle Christianity
I haven't met every non-believer in the world, but my impression of the ones I have met is that if you asked them "What's the difference between you and someone who claims to be a Christian?" their answers might go something like this:
"They're hypocrites, that's the big thing. Christians make a big deal about church and how important church is but from the churches I've been to, church is all about dressing up, being seen and making a big impression. Churches like to teach don't drink, don't smoke, don't curse, don't have premarital sex, don't go to R rated movies ... which starts making church sound like it's just a bunch of rules against having fun.
"Christians say you've gotta stop sinning and follow a bunch of rules if you want to get into Heaven, but the real reason they want to go to Heaven is because they're expecting to be rewarded once they get there. In other words, they're willing to postpone having fun in this life so they can have fun forever, make up for lost time and get everything they want in Heaven.
"Another thing I've noticed is that for wonderful as they say Heaven's gonna be, when crunch time comes they sure don't seem very happy about finally going there.
"I guess what it comes down to is that Christians really aren't that much different from everybody else. They're looking for ways to be happy and get what they want, same as everybody else. Christians just think getting into Heaven is the answer and the best way to do it."
---
After Christ was flogged and crucified, while he hung dying on the cross, I don't think promising us happiness in this life or giving us a reason to feel self-righteous about going to Heaven was what he had in mind.
"They're hypocrites, that's the big thing. Christians make a big deal about church and how important church is but from the churches I've been to, church is all about dressing up, being seen and making a big impression. Churches like to teach don't drink, don't smoke, don't curse, don't have premarital sex, don't go to R rated movies ... which starts making church sound like it's just a bunch of rules against having fun.
"Christians say you've gotta stop sinning and follow a bunch of rules if you want to get into Heaven, but the real reason they want to go to Heaven is because they're expecting to be rewarded once they get there. In other words, they're willing to postpone having fun in this life so they can have fun forever, make up for lost time and get everything they want in Heaven.
"Another thing I've noticed is that for wonderful as they say Heaven's gonna be, when crunch time comes they sure don't seem very happy about finally going there.
"I guess what it comes down to is that Christians really aren't that much different from everybody else. They're looking for ways to be happy and get what they want, same as everybody else. Christians just think getting into Heaven is the answer and the best way to do it."
---
After Christ was flogged and crucified, while he hung dying on the cross, I don't think promising us happiness in this life or giving us a reason to feel self-righteous about going to Heaven was what he had in mind.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Prayer's not brain surgery
According to e-How.com a complex craniotomy ("brain surgery") can take up to 12 hours to perform, with more simple brain operations lasting between three and eight hours on average.
That might sound like a long time, but if you're the guy about to get his skull opened for a cranial overhaul, the last thing you want is a surgeon who can't wait to rush home in time to catch the season finale of Dancing With The Stars.
Nor would you be very enthusiastic about going under the knife of a brain surgeon who showed up in the operating room plugged into his iPod, or who set his scalpel down every two or three minutes to send txts back and forth to his pals.
I'm guessing the last thing you'd want is a surgeon who, less than five minutes into the procedure, suddenly got distracted ... with his attention wandering off to focus on how much he hated medical school or remembering just how dull, repetitious and boring brain surgery can be, or how much he wishes he was someplace else doing anything else.
No sir, if you're the guy stretched out on the operating table what you want is your surgeon's complete and undivided attention for the next three to twelve hours ... or however long it takes.
Because when you're hoping for a miracle, it helps to have a surgeon as committed and dedicated to success as you are.
---
Prayer's not brain surgery: the difference is that in prayer we ask and expect God to do miracles, but seems like we're only willing to invest two or three minutes of commitment and dedication before we get bored or distracted ... and then feel that we've done our part and given God our undivided attention.
That might sound like a long time, but if you're the guy about to get his skull opened for a cranial overhaul, the last thing you want is a surgeon who can't wait to rush home in time to catch the season finale of Dancing With The Stars.
Nor would you be very enthusiastic about going under the knife of a brain surgeon who showed up in the operating room plugged into his iPod, or who set his scalpel down every two or three minutes to send txts back and forth to his pals.
I'm guessing the last thing you'd want is a surgeon who, less than five minutes into the procedure, suddenly got distracted ... with his attention wandering off to focus on how much he hated medical school or remembering just how dull, repetitious and boring brain surgery can be, or how much he wishes he was someplace else doing anything else.
No sir, if you're the guy stretched out on the operating table what you want is your surgeon's complete and undivided attention for the next three to twelve hours ... or however long it takes.
Because when you're hoping for a miracle, it helps to have a surgeon as committed and dedicated to success as you are.
---
Prayer's not brain surgery: the difference is that in prayer we ask and expect God to do miracles, but seems like we're only willing to invest two or three minutes of commitment and dedication before we get bored or distracted ... and then feel that we've done our part and given God our undivided attention.
Steering by Committee? The Impossible is no problem
Yesterday I got drafted to help move a friend's boat to another marina.
The boat's engines don't work, and for the past few days the subject of how to move/tow/drag the 40-foot houseboat out of its slip, through the congested marina, down the channel and into its new slip between other vessels ... without playing nautical pinball machine and causing catastrophic damage to every boat between here and there ... became an intense subject of discussion, speculation and fretting.
Opinions varied: one estimate concluded no fewer than seven people ... to fend off, steer and handle lines ... would be required aboard plus two tow vessels (my own ill-advised suggestion was to contract a helicopter to pick up and relocate the boat). Bear in mind that the boat is 40 feet long and the space between adjacent vessels is 50 feet, leaving just 10 feet of wiggle room between success and lawsuit.
In the end, the boat's owner hired a professional tugboat captain to do the job ... and he showed up in an open top single engine runabout. He arrived at the appointed time, tied two lines to the houseboat, turned his boat around and began backing the houseboat out of the slip. Huh? What about waiting for the other five volunteers to show up and lend a hand?
Never mind that there were just two- not seven, of us aboard ... he didn't care. Oh, did I mention that the wind was gusting the 10-foot tall houseboat sideways at 25 mph ... with a strong current flowing perpendicular to the marina?
No problem. Twenty minutes later the houseboat was safely tied in her new slip ... without a scratch ... and by then eight of us (including wide-eyed onlookers) stood on the dock dumbfounded, shaking our heads at what we'd just seen. We'd witnessed the impossible happen right before our eyes.
We'd seen one guy use a boat barely bigger than a bathtub move a two-story houseboat through a crowded marina, across open water in a 25 mph wind and then back the houseboat into a slip just 15 feet wide. Beside a $600,000 trawler.
No problem. No drama. No yelling, no screaming, no second-guessing, no blame, no excuses and no fault-finding.
Tugboat captains? Those guys are good.
---
Funny how the captain didn't show up and start doing the job by asking everybody for their input, suggestions, advice and for their opinions. Neither did he say, "The first thing we need to do is form a steering committee."
My friend's boat would still be tied in its slip if he had.
The boat's engines don't work, and for the past few days the subject of how to move/tow/drag the 40-foot houseboat out of its slip, through the congested marina, down the channel and into its new slip between other vessels ... without playing nautical pinball machine and causing catastrophic damage to every boat between here and there ... became an intense subject of discussion, speculation and fretting.
Opinions varied: one estimate concluded no fewer than seven people ... to fend off, steer and handle lines ... would be required aboard plus two tow vessels (my own ill-advised suggestion was to contract a helicopter to pick up and relocate the boat). Bear in mind that the boat is 40 feet long and the space between adjacent vessels is 50 feet, leaving just 10 feet of wiggle room between success and lawsuit.
In the end, the boat's owner hired a professional tugboat captain to do the job ... and he showed up in an open top single engine runabout. He arrived at the appointed time, tied two lines to the houseboat, turned his boat around and began backing the houseboat out of the slip. Huh? What about waiting for the other five volunteers to show up and lend a hand?
Never mind that there were just two- not seven, of us aboard ... he didn't care. Oh, did I mention that the wind was gusting the 10-foot tall houseboat sideways at 25 mph ... with a strong current flowing perpendicular to the marina?
No problem. Twenty minutes later the houseboat was safely tied in her new slip ... without a scratch ... and by then eight of us (including wide-eyed onlookers) stood on the dock dumbfounded, shaking our heads at what we'd just seen. We'd witnessed the impossible happen right before our eyes.
We'd seen one guy use a boat barely bigger than a bathtub move a two-story houseboat through a crowded marina, across open water in a 25 mph wind and then back the houseboat into a slip just 15 feet wide. Beside a $600,000 trawler.
No problem. No drama. No yelling, no screaming, no second-guessing, no blame, no excuses and no fault-finding.
Tugboat captains? Those guys are good.
---
Funny how the captain didn't show up and start doing the job by asking everybody for their input, suggestions, advice and for their opinions. Neither did he say, "The first thing we need to do is form a steering committee."
My friend's boat would still be tied in its slip if he had.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
"The world's got so many problems today, I don't think anybody's got all the answers."
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
- Zephaniah 3:17
- Zephaniah 3:17
The Name Blame
I still notice the times when I meet another believer and the first question is, "What religion are you?"
Baptist? Catholic? Episcopalian or Methodist?
Why do we do that?
Is it easier categorizing and looking for the things we've chosen to divide us, instead of asking our new friend, "So what's Christ doing in your life?"
Baptist? Catholic? Episcopalian or Methodist?
Why do we do that?
Is it easier categorizing and looking for the things we've chosen to divide us, instead of asking our new friend, "So what's Christ doing in your life?"
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Nightime Christian, Daytime Believer
Remember the difference between Nighttime Guy and Daytime Guy?
Nighttime Guy is the one who likes to stay up late, party and have a good time. At 2am, Nighttime Guy will see the clock and say, "No problem! You've got plenty of time to sleep, so keep the party going."
But Daytime Guy is the guy the alarm clock wakes up the next morning at 7am after just three hours of sleep. Daytime Guy sets his alarm because he's got to shower, shave, fix breakfast, drive and be ready at work by 9am.
The one thing both guys have in common is that they both live inside the same guy.
--
We live in a culture that practically screams at us, "You have a RIGHT to be Happy!" And because we seldom hear anything convincing to the contrary, lots of people embrace that right ... and therefore feel entitled to do whatever it takes to make themselves happy.
Thing is, "Happiness" is temporary and refers to a current state of mind: a person can be blissfully happy at 10am but then feel perfectly miserable by noon ... while nothing of lasting or permanent consequence has happened in-between. He or she is still exactly the same person; the only difference is that they just don't feel "Happy" any more.
Christians who're focused on spending their lives in pursuit of Happiness are like Nighttime Guy. Because they feel entitled to a lifetime of happiness, they empower themselves to bypass the Commandments, ignore Scripture and indulge in sin if that's what they think it'll take to finally reach "Happiness" ... but somehow Happiness always remains one more elusive step away.
The believer who wakes up and arrives at work to surrender, worship and obey is like Daytime Guy. His days are spent focused on work ... and his happiness is found in the joy of serving and living for the resurrected Christ.
Nighttime Guy is the one who likes to stay up late, party and have a good time. At 2am, Nighttime Guy will see the clock and say, "No problem! You've got plenty of time to sleep, so keep the party going."
But Daytime Guy is the guy the alarm clock wakes up the next morning at 7am after just three hours of sleep. Daytime Guy sets his alarm because he's got to shower, shave, fix breakfast, drive and be ready at work by 9am.
The one thing both guys have in common is that they both live inside the same guy.
--
We live in a culture that practically screams at us, "You have a RIGHT to be Happy!" And because we seldom hear anything convincing to the contrary, lots of people embrace that right ... and therefore feel entitled to do whatever it takes to make themselves happy.
Thing is, "Happiness" is temporary and refers to a current state of mind: a person can be blissfully happy at 10am but then feel perfectly miserable by noon ... while nothing of lasting or permanent consequence has happened in-between. He or she is still exactly the same person; the only difference is that they just don't feel "Happy" any more.
Christians who're focused on spending their lives in pursuit of Happiness are like Nighttime Guy. Because they feel entitled to a lifetime of happiness, they empower themselves to bypass the Commandments, ignore Scripture and indulge in sin if that's what they think it'll take to finally reach "Happiness" ... but somehow Happiness always remains one more elusive step away.
The believer who wakes up and arrives at work to surrender, worship and obey is like Daytime Guy. His days are spent focused on work ... and his happiness is found in the joy of serving and living for the resurrected Christ.
"Urgent Urgent, Emergency?"
When we finally get around to praying, have we noticed that it's usually because we've run into a situation that feels like an EMERGENCY?
"Lord, I've got a big problem."
"Oh Lord, please get me out of debt."
"Our Father, send me a man."
"Dear God, what I need is a plan."
Always so urgent when we speak, and ask God to drop favors in our laps.
Not quiet so urgent in-between, when everything seems to be going our way. When we're paying attention to our will, and not to our Father's.
What we miss is that the answers and the solutions have always been there before we need them.
We're just not willing to listen to God ... not even when the consequences of our choices lead us to seek him in urgent, emergency-style "Lord please fix things!" prayer.
"Lord, I've got a big problem."
"Oh Lord, please get me out of debt."
"Our Father, send me a man."
"Dear God, what I need is a plan."
Always so urgent when we speak, and ask God to drop favors in our laps.
Not quiet so urgent in-between, when everything seems to be going our way. When we're paying attention to our will, and not to our Father's.
What we miss is that the answers and the solutions have always been there before we need them.
We're just not willing to listen to God ... not even when the consequences of our choices lead us to seek him in urgent, emergency-style "Lord please fix things!" prayer.
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