The blank is intentional. What adjectives do you think of when you think of Christ?
Judgmental? Authoritative? Legislative? Intolerant?
If you think of those kinds of describers, your Church home probably reflects that kind of an image.
Kind? Loving? Compassionate? Patient?
If you see Jesus more like this, your Church likely does too.
]]>As Joshua stands on the banks of the Jordan, he contemplates all the struggles and difficulties his people have experienced to get to this point. He also looks ahead with great anticipation of new hope for his people. After a few details of preparation, Joshua says this to his followers the day before they make the decisive move to cross over, “tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
What is your Jordan River? Is their some final hurdle between you and “living the dream”? For many, one thing that stands in the way is pride. If one could only set aside the attitude of being stubborn and filled up with self focus, crossing over might be possible. Did you hear the promise Joshua made? On the other side, God will do amazing things.
Welcome to 2010. It’s here whether you are ready or not. How about listening to Joshua today and follow his lead, come on over. You can use this moment, this time of natural transition from one era to a new one and adjust some things in your life so you too can see God doing wonders all around you.
]]>One of us really dreads all the extra activity created by holidays. Another one of us absolutely loves all the excitement, attention, and buzz in the air. Nobody is right or wrong here, just different. And it is okay to have different opinions about matters like these, right? It is just one more reminder that we are a world full of people with unique views, interests, likes & dislikes. Diversity.
The day after Christmas, for me, signifies the beginning of the end of the year. In just six days it will be next year. I am one of those who likes to use this moment as a springboard into reflecting on what was, being reminded about what is, and mostly anticipating what will be. There is a competing attitude that sort of looks back all the time, and keeps one attached to the undoable past in a negative manner. I would ask that whoever needs a little nudge for having a renewed hope for tomorrow to join me in taking our best shot at what the Apostle Paul once wrote to a group of Jesus-followers long ago when he said, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” If we all look ahead, what a difference we can make. Unity.
]]>One thing I did over this period of time was to ask many different people to tell me “What is most important?” Responses were varied. Here’s a sample.
There is much for me to do as I ponder these past 40 days. I was seeking clarity and direction. Now I have more things to think about.
I was also interested to see that others ask this same question in specific situations. For example: In an effort to understand how people prioritize healthcare benefits, the Center for Healthcare Decisions (CHCD) developed What Matters Most to address the important issues regarding health care. Their survey of 1,019 Californians identified life threatening issues as those which rose to the top.
But my 40 days was not just about what matters most. It was also about spending some focussed time in the Scriptures, in prayer, in meditation and in other areas of discipline as well. It is too early to give the full report of what a difference these 40 days will have on me, but one great thing that came out of it was that I was able to do one thing on the list that was the most important thing on my 83 year old dad’s list. I went to see him in Florida. We played several games of Scrabble. I really enjoyed the time with him.
]]>Twenty days of the Forty Day pursuit are behind me and twenty to go. I know days always come and go, usually unnoticed. I have actually been alive for over 19,000 of those 24 hour periods myself. But, when taking on a concentrated program with daily objectives like this, it has reminded me that 40 days is a long time. Thanks to all of you who have indulged me and have conversed with me about things like, “What is God’s reason for putting us here?” And, “What is most important?”
One additional specific goal I have is going to be hard for me to accomplish. Experts say if you tell someone else the plan, you are more likely to achieve it. I am going to go to bed one of these next 20 nights and when I wake up I will do nothing electronic for 24 hours. No TV, no cell phone, no iPod, no email, no computer, no tweeting, no – none of it. I hope to hear people and God in the old fashion way.
In the meantime, the people I have been talking to during this exercise have reminded me that people are important to God. People are important to people too. We should be aware of God’s direct involvement in our lives through the Holy Spirit. Yes, we are here to love and serve God, but God is also here to provide for His children – freely receive! Reconcile, restore and rebuild broken friendships. Learn to love others just like Jesus loves His church.
I have elected to receive to start the second half.
]]>It seems like forty is some sort of sacred number. By the way, before I go any further, I am not one of those who plays with numerology in an over-the-top manner. There is some significance to why Bible writers used certain numbers, but not any more than the Bible itself explains. For forty years the wandering Israelites ate manna in the wilderness while trying to find their way home. The flood in the days of Noah lasted forty days and forty nights. Jesus fasted and experienced trial forty days in the desert. There are more examples.
This number is used in conjunction with testing, searching, captivity, and change.
It appears to me that it is a reasonable time frame to allow God to work on a person in a concentrated fashion. I am 10 days into my effort and I have seen some things I might have missed before. I’ll share those details along the way. For now, suffice it to say, I have spoken to about 15-20 people with direct conversations on the topic of “why am I here?” and “what is God’s plan for the world?” and the responses have been insightful, and not as uniformly consistent as I expected. Day Ten.
]]>I also have this little saying that will stay in front of me daily, “How can I increase my service today knowing that my rewards in life must be in exact proportion to my service?” (Yea, kind of business oriented, not so much grace oriented.. but it’s a great principle to keep me engaged).
Some of this is timed so I can concentrate on finishing the year in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called. I also like to start getting my arms around the fact that a new year will soon be upon us and it is always an ideal time to look ahead with renewed strength as to what God has in store for my life.
And then there’s this heightened awareness that takes place during these times of refreshing. Like today. While I was sipping a cup of coffee and enjoying one of Edwin’s bagels, I observed a woman who stopped on the sidewalk out front. She looked to be in a trance. Soon she came in a took a seat at the counter in the corner. It was apparent to me that she was deep in prayer. That made me start praying silently for each person who came and went from the Bagel Shop. It made me pray for each passerby. Day one.
]]>Dietrich Bonhoeffer raises an interesting discussion when he asks if it is easier for us to confess our faults to a perfect and holy God or to an equally fault-filled fellow human being. Sometimes we fool ourselves when only confessing our sins to God in that in reality we are actually confessing to ourselves, and in the same breath granting ourselves absolution.
It would be eternally grand for each of us to have a trustworthy pastor, friend, or kindred spirit who will take our confession of faults and pray for us and leave it at that. It does the soul well to speak the unspeakable to one who will intercede on your behalf. It guards against self-deception and rescues us from disaster.
]]>You want to weigh in? Got a pet-peeve about driving?
When I heard all this complaining and fussing about OTHER people’s habits, I was reminded about how easy it is to point the finger of blame at others. We do it in many different venues of our lives. Then I was reminded of eternity. “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” That’s found in the New Testament – the Book of Romans, chapter 14, verse 12. Judging others… maybe not such a good idea to view others with contempt. Enjoy your ride through life, and remember, as you look around, you are in the company of fellow violators.
]]>Solomon said, “There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow.” Ecclesiastes 1:11. Life is not meant to be limited to staying focussed on this side of eternal existence.
Some estimate that nearly 107 billion people have been born into this world since the introduction of Adam and Eve. About 6.5 billion are currently living.
However, every now and then, someone comes along who gains the attention of their peers and warrants some sort of memorial being established in their honor. I came upon a really cool one while visiting my son and his wife in Aspen Colorado. It is a nice quiet sanctuary of John Denver’s songs engraved on rocks that line the Roaring Fork River. It was well deserved by a local artist who impacted many with pleasant music.
Since Solomon’s words have proven to be accurate, we might consider his grand conclusion about life, for when we pass from this life to the eternal that is beyond what we see and know with our human senses, we will do well to “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of every man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13.
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