tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45600338814172944942024-02-20T02:02:11.217-06:00Brent's BlogBy Whom are you being shaped? To what are you enslaved? God desires us to be free to 'worship' Him (cf. the exodus).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-19987071757827688602015-04-03T12:50:00.001-05:002015-04-03T12:50:48.234-05:00Laying A Foundation <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Abraham is a well known figure in the
Bible, and for good reason. After all he trusted in God, left all he knew, and
was blessed to be a blessing to others. I am all for Abraham being well known. Indeed,
his is a story followers of Jesus ought to know. After all, he is like our
great-great-great-great (and a lot more greats) grandfather in the faith (cf.
Gal3:7-9, 16-17), and we can learn much from his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet there is an overlooked person in the
Abraham narrative I want to bring into the spotlight a bit this day; his name
is Terah. “Why Terah?” “In fact, who is Terah?” you may ask. From <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen11.26-32&version=ESV" target="_blank">Genesis11:26-32</a> we learn Terah is Abraham’s father (well, Abram at this point).
Genesis 11:31 says Terah took Abram and Lot (his grandson) and left Ur of the
Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now do not miss this. This is the same
Canaan to which Abram finally went; the same Canaan God gave to the offspring
of Abraham (Gen12:7). In other words, it seems Terah started off on the exact
same journey for which Abraham is known. Granted, for some reason Terah stopped
in Haran, but do not miss that his initial movement (dare we be open to saying
following God in obedience) got Abraham that much closer to where God wanted
him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To be clear, I understand the text does
not say God communicated with Terah. I also understand that if God did
communicate with Terah he did not go as far as God desired him to go. Yet that
is also part of my point. His “obedience” got Abraham to a place that was
closer to God’s desire – and followers of Jesus everywhere benefit from it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I realize there is a lot unsaid in this
post; I am also going to make a big jump to an application. Yet here is the
point; never underestimate how the changes Jesus brings about in your life can
lay a foundation for something “magnificent” in the life of another. Indeed, no
one lives in a vacuum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I intend to follow up again, give a few
examples, and explain “magnificent” in the near future. Yet for now, on this
Good Friday, do not dismiss your faith and obedience – even if it has fallen
short of what you think God desires. Things are indeed difficult at times (cf.
Good Friday), but Sunday (and the Resurrection) is coming; the Resurrection
is reality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-66973482801473148662014-10-03T11:23:00.001-05:002014-10-03T11:23:19.827-05:00A Return...[maybe]It has been a while since I have blogged. In this post I will partly address a reason why I have been on hiatus. I say a reason because there are actually a handful of them. And while I will address a reason shortly, I do not foresee me sharing, and addressing, all of them. Who knows, it may happen. Yet I do not want to give the impression I am going to be blogging consistently.<br />
<br />
As for the reason in focus right now for my blogging hiatus (haha, as if I have ever been very consistent), time is the culprit. As we know, time is a limited commodity. It seems everyone is conscious of the amount of time they spend on at least a few things in their life. This could take the form of something taking "forever" because it is not enjoyable, or passing "in a flash" because it is suddenly over (and was enjoyable). In fact, some people are conscious of how much of another's time they take up. Unless of course you are the Kansas City Royals, who apparently could care less how much of anyone's time they consume lately. Yet I have a feeling their fans don't care much either - despite a lack of sleep - so long as they keep winning.<br />
<br />
Be those things as they are, we all have the same amount of time. Yet not all activities deserve the same share of it. While this ought to go without saying, it has a point.<br />
<br />
Most, though not all, readers of my blog are Christians. Most, though not all, likely read other blogs as well. Sadly, if percentages on the whole in our culture were to be applied to this group, you are likely spending more time reading my blog (and perhaps another blog or two), than you will spend reading in the Bible and/or praying today.<br />
<br />
Time. We all have the same amount of it. Some things are more important than others. So, thank you for reading, I certainly hope you continue to follow and read along in the future. But make sure you communicate with God today as well - through His word and in prayer. While I hope what I share is helpful and edifying, I need to be clear, whenever it is either of these - the Source is the One who deeply desires time with you...and He will never let you down.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-69026477221058142872014-02-10T16:50:00.000-06:002014-02-10T16:50:35.827-06:00Your Story<div dir="ltr">
Every person you have ever met has a story. By “story” I mean the events that have occurred in their lives which have led them to the place where they are currently. These stories come in a variety of styles. Some are success stories. Others are stories of ruin. Some are inspirational stories. Others make us glad we have our own story and not their story. Yet for all the differences in stories they all have one thing in common. They are all lacking…</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
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It does not matter what one achieves in life – there is always more. It does not matter how far someone has fallen in life – it could have been worse. Every story lacks because our individual stories are incomplete until we encounter God’s Story and have our broken story remade by His Story.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
</div>
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God’s Story has literally shaped the world in which we live – for the good. God’s Story gives us hope when everything around us seems to be crumbling down. God’s Story guarantees us that one day things will be made right again. Indeed, God’s Story is where we can find hope, healing, and purpose for our individual story no matter what it currently looks like.</div>
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It is undeniable that, no matter how good your story is, it is still littered with difficulty and heartache. It is also undeniable that, no matter how bad your story is, there is still hope. A beautiful reality is that your current story (no matter whether it is “good,” “bad,” or “broken”), once changed by God’s Story, just might lead to a ministry which will bring hope, healing, and purpose for countless people. It is a mystifying way in which God works as He continues to undo the effects of sin on His creation – at times one story at a time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-8857031701104371022014-01-06T15:53:00.001-06:002014-01-06T15:53:29.697-06:00God's Story: The God Who Meets Us [3]
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Today
is, officially, the last time you can greet someone with “Merry Christmas”
until next December 25<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>. If you are still greeting people with Merry
Christmas, you have more than likely received more than one strange look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
funny thought occurred to me just now. What if Christians, who know the Church
Calendar, would lovingly answer back, “Yes, and Merry Christmas to you,” when greeted
by someone who simply says “Hello,” or “Good to see you” during the Christmas
Season (especially as days seven and beyond come and go)? Would it be
newsworthy? Would a “War on the Christmas Calendar” news thread begin on our
news stations when people do not respond in kind? OK, facetious part of post
now done; moving on...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">On
this last day of this Christmas Season, we will briefly reflect on a common
story heard when people start to follow Jesus. The story, which is wonderful
and I praise God for them, basically says someone’s life was “a mess,” and then
they met Jesus...after this encounter their life got “straightened out,” and
here we are. Again, I am thankful for stories like this. They show us how God
meets people where they are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yet
we need more (and more) of another type of story. The type of story we need to
hear more of goes something like this... “my life was great and I ‘had it all’...and
then I met Jesus and He turned my world upside down.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
know there are stories like this, we just need more of them – especially in our
culture where pursuing the American Dream is so prevalent. After all, Jesus is
not merely Savior; He is also Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
I mean is the “my life was a mess until I met Jesus” story has a Savior bent to
it. Yet the, “my life looked like the epitome of success until I met Jesus...”
story has a Lord bent to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">This
reality does not make one story better than another. Nor does this reality mean
Jesus is more Savior than Lord or vice versa. Jesus is both, and we need a
growing realization of both if we are going to truly follow Him – wherever He
leads us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Interestingly,
while I said the “my life was a mess” type of story has a Savior bent to it,
the aspect of Jesus is Lord/King is not absent from this story. E.g., there are
ways citizens of a kingdom behave – because their King says so (and this is
bigger than morals). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Likewise,
the “my life was great until Jesus ‘messed it up’” type of story has a
Lord/King bent to it. Yet it is not devoid of the reality of Jesus as Savior.
E.g., the person who has been rescued by Jesus (saved) had been deceived by the
cultural influences around them. While they need a King to submit to rather
than their own wants and desires...they also need to be saved from the hole in
which they live (perhaps after having dug it for themselves). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yes,
Jesus is Savior and Lord. If your picture of Jesus does not include
both....then something is askew, and you are not following the Jesus of the
Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
let us not forget that on this Epiphany Day we remember how the magi came to
see a toddler Jesus; the One who, as a baby, was born <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>King</u></b> of the Jews (Mt2:2) as He would also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>save</u></b> people from their sins
(Mt1:21) some two years earlier. A significant aspect of this is those magi
were Gentiles – not ethnically Jewish. Praise God for revealing the mystery
hidden for ages through Jesus at the visit of the magi (as non-Jews worship Him
– cf. Mt2:11), as it became crystal clear that God was undoing the effects of
sin on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>all</u></b> of His creation –
including those who are not ethnically Jewish. I, for one, am very glad for
this truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Praise
God for the Miracle of the Incarnation. May we be increasingly shaped by it as
2014 progresses. May we be able to look back on 2014 (and grow to realize in
the moment as well) and see a combination of how Jesus both “straightened out”
our lives and “messed them up” for God’s glory. And may we desire no other way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-25600789938353374092014-01-03T15:01:00.000-06:002014-01-03T15:01:33.376-06:00God's Story: The God Who Meets Us [2]
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">God
moves first; He always has and He always will. Last time we saw this truth in
the life of Abraham in chapter two of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Story</i>. This time we will move onto another important truth we must place
alongside the reality that God meets us where we are – the truth that God tests
us. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now,
we may not know whether an issue we are facing is a test from God, or an attack
from the forces of evil, or merely fallout from our own learned habits and
desires. Yet, in the big picture, knowing this is not the issue. The issue is
being faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For
example, Abraham took matters into his own hands (was not faithful) and went the
culturally acceptable path of having a child with Hagar rather than trusting
God would provide a child for him and Sarai through her womb (cf. Genesis 16). I
am not a world religions expert, but it is commonly held that Ishmael (the son Hagar
bore Abram) is the patriarch of the Arab nations, and therefore Islam.
Hmmm...that decision has not panned out very well throughout the course of
history, has it? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
so as God’s plan for redeeming humanity progressed, He needed to test Abraham
to know whether or not he was trustworthy (cf. another lack of trusting God in
the last post). We see this test in chapter 22 of Genesis. In what is an unthinkable
and unbearable test in our eyes, God asks Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his only
son – the son of the promise no less. By all accounts Abraham was willing to go
through with the sacrifice (cf. Genesis 22:9-11), but was stopped by God at the
last moment. The result of this test was, “now I know that you fear God, seeing
you have not withheld your son...” (Gen22:12). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In order to keep this out of the realm of theological debate, let us simply
focus on what is agreed upon by all (I think), the fact that God tested
Abraham. This is important for us to not only grasp, but also to accept,
because by and large we live in a culture that does not like to believe
God tests people. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Many
in our culture prefer to think God wants their life to be sheer bliss and
enjoyment, for people to have their best life now, to be healthy and wealthy,
and never have anything bad come their way. One of the many problems with these
beliefs is they are not historically true of those who follow God – let alone
Biblically true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yet I
want us to move beyond the mere fact that God is a God who tests us. I want us
to realize there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>no way</u></b>
Abraham would have been able to pass the “Isaac test” when he first started following
God (and I do not mean because Isaac was not born yet). This is because Abraham’s
faith, like anyone’s, was in its infancy when he first began to follow God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Basically
Abraham had to learn to quit taking matters into his own hands and learn to
trust in God. Abraham needed to spend time walking with God. Abraham needed to
learn of God’s faithfulness and provision in order to be in a place where he
could trust God with the life of his son (cf. Hebrews 11:17-19).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So
what about you?</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Is your faith (trust) in God able to handle more adverse situations now than it was at the start of 2013? </div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
How have you tried to take matters into your own hands this past year? </div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How
has God met you where you were this past year? </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
decisions have you made, culturally acceptable or not, that have had a negative
impact on people? Remember, God is bigger than your mistakes...but your
mistakes still have fallout. </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Are
you aware of possible ways God has tested you this past year? </span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Do
you look at difficult life situations as an opportunity to grow in your ability to
respond faithfully moment by moment? Or do you wish and pray away difficulties?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">re
you following Jesus more closely at the start of 2014 than you were at the
start of 2013? What is your evidence? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
have heard it said that a faith that cannot be tested is a faith that cannot be
trusted. What a simple, yet profound statement. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
once again we come back to the Christmas Season – the Miracle of the
Incarnation. Quite often in our culture we love to hear stories about how
someone’s life was “a mess,” and then they met Jesus, and things got “straightened
out.” I am thankful for these stories. After all, Jesus showed us – concretely –
that God meets people where they are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yet
there are other stories I long to hear...yet those will have to wait for
another post – perhaps on the last day of Christmas as we embark on a new year
together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-68217842931669408912013-12-31T13:30:00.001-06:002014-01-03T14:09:17.450-06:00God's Story: The God Who Meets Us <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
events covered in chapter two of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Story</i>,
titled “God Builds A Nation,” revolve around Abraham and his family. In this,
and a follow up post, I will draw on two aspects from the sermon from 9/15/13. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">First,
we will look at how the God of the Bible is a God who meets us where we are at.
In other words, God does not expect us to figure everything out, or get rid of all
sin in our lives, or drop our friends, or anything like that before we come
to Him. If these things were the case, no one would ever come to God. Yet a sad
reality is how these, and similar false beliefs, are what keep many people in
our culture away from God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
it is often said in jest, there is some truth behind a person joking about
showing up in church and having it burn down. I am not saying the building
would burn down. Rather, what this reveals is a false perception shared by many
(even many in The Church) that somehow we have to be good enough for God to have
anything to do with us – let alone love us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">However,
let us consider Abraham. Did you know that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>after</u></b>
God called Abraham (named Abram at the time) and he left all he knew, that
Abraham did not trust in God and took matters into his own hands by lying to
preserve his life? (And this was no small lie as it momentarily jeopardized God’s
plan to work through Abram – just think if Sarai had become pregnant by Pharaoh...)
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now,
we could make a biblical case-study for how you can lie and be materially
blessed (seriously, read about it in Genesis 12:10-20), OR we can see God is a
God who meets people where they are. Although Abraham responded in faith to
God’s call, he still needed to trust God more. Thankfully God is big enough to
work in spite of our imperfections. No doubt about it, Abraham’s life was not
all in order...but God still pursued and worked through him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So
what about you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">One
thing the <span style="font-size: small;">Christmas</span> Season shows us – and yes it is still Christmas until
January 6<sup>th</sup> – is that the God of the Bible is a God who meets people
where they are. After all, Jesus left the riches of heaven to invade the slums
of earth and meet people, from all walks of life, right where they were. This
was certainly an unexpected twist in God’s Story.</span> But when it comes to God...it seems we ought
to <a href="http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/expect-the-unexpected/" target="_blank">expect the unexpected</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-21043700572106954682013-12-03T16:32:00.000-06:002013-12-03T16:32:03.483-06:00God's Story: Which God? [4]<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">OK,
so this is seriously the last post on the issue of “Which God?” – for now. The
next post will be different, likely moving on to chapter two of <i>The Story</i>. Yet I must do one more for a
few reasons, one of which is how it ties in nicely to the season of Advent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
more people read the Bible and gained a better understanding of God’s Story, they
would be truly amazed at the amount of grace and mercy present. It is practically
everywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
distinction between some “god” and YHWH God <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2013/11/gods-story-which-god-2.html" target="_blank">has already been established</a>. The
God of the Bible does not operate how people often expect Him to function. We
already Him pursue Adam and Eve in the midst of their rebellion. Yet to
illustrate this again let me ask you this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Why
did God kick Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Quite
often people say Adam and Eve were kicked out because they sinned. Or they were
kicked out because God was punishing them. However, what does the text say? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If
we read the Bible this is what we see: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">22 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in
knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the
tree of life and eat, and live forever—” </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">23 </span></sup></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">therefore the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> God sent him out from the garden of Eden</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> to
work the ground from which he was taken. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">24 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">He
drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim
and a flaming sword that turned every way to <b>guard the way to the tree of life. [</b>Genesis 3:22-24<b>]</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Did
you catch that? The reason God kicked them out of Eden was to keep them from
the tree of life. In other words, He could not bear the thought of Adam and Eve
having continual access to the tree of life, and therefore living forever, in a
distorted relationship with Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
need to be honest; the fear of death is real. Many people are so terrified of
it that they do not talk about it, refuse to go to funerals, and try and “move
on” with life whenever death interrupts their daily plans. I do not think it is
a stretch for you to think of a few people who would gladly eat of the tree of
life as long as they had access to it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To
be clear; I am not insensitive to those who have lost loved one – whether in
the distant or recent past. The truth is, losing a loved one hurts. And that is
OK…it is one of many signs that a life had significance; that the person
mattered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
we need to trust God on this one. Knowing that an eternity with a distorted
relationship with Him is not an eternity worth living, in His mercy and grace
God bars His children from something that would be harmful to them. He bars
them from the tree of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yet
notice he bars them. The text does not say He destroyed the tree of life, which
was intended to be for the good of humanity. No, God merely made it off limits
until the other bookend of God’s Story occurs – the new heavens and new earth.
In the new heavens and new earth God’s people will once again have access to
the tree of life (cf. Revelation 2:7; 22:2,14,19), and there will be no more
death. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Can
you imagine it? No death (nor no anything of a lot else – Rev21:4), because the
Kingdom of God will have come in its fullness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">And
this is where Advent comes in. Advent is an entire season leading up to the
Christmas Season. And on the first Sunday of Advent (this past Sunday – 12/1)
the focus was on the return of Jesus…when everything is made right in the new
heavens and new earth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
which god; a perception of a god formed out of isolated verses and personal
experience? Or the God who took on flesh and came to earth as Jesus? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
a glorious day it will be, when Jesus returns and the fullness of the Kingdom
of the God of the Bible is here. There will finally be true peace in that day.
And in that day what God’s Story says so clearly, if we have ears to hear, will
come to fruition. God’s Story says sin, death, and the current state of this
world will not have the last word. No, God has the last word. This is His Story
– period. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Maranatha
– Come Lord Jesus! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-50673328093562399522013-11-27T10:40:00.001-06:002013-11-27T10:44:35.303-06:00God's Story & Black Friday<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Long
before the day after Thanksgiving became known as Black Friday, there was
another Friday that was black. On that dark Friday, over 1,900 years ago, an
obedient Son laid down His life to ensure that His Father’s Story – which
includes His will to dwell among people in an unhindered relationship again – would
not be thwarted by anything ever again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Jesus,
whose name means The LORD (YHWH) is salvation, was brutally executed. The forces
which control this world – and keep it in darkness – deceived people into
killing the Prince of Peace. Yet in a beautiful twist of irony so majestic that
it could only be found in God’s Story, the servant who laid His life down was
raised back to life and is now enthroned as the King above all kings…and the
whole world groans, longing for His return when He will make things right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Wow,
there is a lot that needs explained in the above paragraphs...but I want to keep
this short. Therefore I will cut to the chase. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
bearing does that black Friday have on the Black Friday that is now less than
48 hours away? I would say a lot... Yet if I expounded on even some of the “a
lots,” this would not be short. So, while it is true that Jesus died because of the sin of
humanity...it is also true that we do not grasp how far that sin reaches its
ugly hands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">It
certainly shows up in greed, and while other descriptors could be used to
describe <a href="http://money.howstuffworks.com/10-black-friday-horror-stories.htm#page=6" target="_blank">these Black Friday disasters</a>,
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">greed certainly is applicable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">But
alas, in order to keep this short, I am not going to rant and rail against
Black Friday (like I kind of did <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2012/11/countdown.html" target="_blank">last year</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">). Yet more importantly, in order
to turn one of the evil one’s weapons against him, I am going to say the
following (by the way, the cross gives us the opportunity to turn <b><u>every</u></b> weapon of the evil one
against him). If you plan to go Black Friday shopping I am not going to try and
talk you out of it. However, I do want you to consider – and actually do – the following… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">1) </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For whatever amount of money you
save on Black Friday, give a sizeable portion of that to something like <a href="https://bigdent.org/Default.aspx" target="_blank">The BigDent</a> [www.bigdent.org]. The Big Dent is a Christian organization that works
with microfinance to help people in the two-thirds world with a small loan.
This loan is then paid back, which provides more money to loan to other small
businesses. This is a way the cycle of poverty can be broken. Oh yeah, you do
not even have to fund the whole loan if you did not save that much…but there
are so many on the list – with varying amounts – that you may be surprised. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Here
is another one that extends beyond Black Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">2) </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">For whatever amount of money you
spend on your “Christmas shopping” as a whole, give a portion of that away to a
local charity. What we do at New Life Christian Church, in Emporia KS, where I
preach is this: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
encourage families to at least “tithe” (give 10% - they can give more) of
whatever money they spend on Christmas gifts back to the church. We then take
this money and send it to <i><a href="http://www.persecution.com/" target="_blank">The Voice ofthe Martyrs</a></i> [www.persecution.com] in order to help persecuted Christians
around the world. This help does take the form of a Christmas Care pack – but
these care packs are much different than what many in our culture would think. This
year they are going to Nepal, and $25 will provide a backpack, a children’s Bible, school
supplies, a sweater for school, socks, and shoes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
I am sure there are other better ideas out there somewhere, that is not the
point. The point is people today can harness an aspect of our culture’s Black
Friday and be a light shining into the darkness for others in great need. Nice
huh? In other words, turn a weapon of the evil one – i.e., grossly disproportionate
wealth – against him by diverting some “savings,” and even planned
expenditures, to help others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There,
how’s that for short? Oh yeah, even if you are not a Christian and are reading
this blog, please feel free to give to the above organizations. I think if you
checked into them your heart would break for what those they help experience.
However, if you want to give to a local charitable organization instead, I have
no problem with that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
reality is, the black Friday over 1,900 years ago does have profound
implications for the Black Friday in less than 48 hours. To not consider those
implications is less than Christian – if you are a follower of Jesus that
is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-51834836163193281602013-11-26T14:47:00.002-06:002013-11-26T14:47:30.775-06:00God's Story: Which God? [3]<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I bet
a lot of people think God is going a “poor” job of running things (feel free to
insert whatever expletive you want). Truth be known, I bet you have had a
similar thought in your lifetime too. In fact, this truth goes for those
claiming to be atheists (perhaps this thought was a step on their journey to
rejecting a belief in God), those who are agnostic (perhaps this thought keeps
them from trusting in God), and even many Christians. Yep, you read that correctly,
even many Christians too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yet I
will assert that if you are thinking this, or something similar, then you
really do not know God’s Story as well as He would like you to know it… So, let
us get back to exploring God’s Story together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If
you had someone read Genesis 2:4-3:24 out loud to you, your ears undoubtedly
heard a major shift in Genesis 3:1. Yet the shift was not simply that a serpent
entered the narrative. No, the shift was from the use of YHWH God to simply god
in the text. Not only was this shift on the tongue of the serpent…but on the lips
of Eve as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eve,
who was in a covenant relationship with God, shockingly bought into the
distorted view of God put forth by the serpent…started by the omission of the
word YHWH when referring to God. When the serpent used the distant,
non-covenant word for “god,” it put forth a deity who was distant and
uninvolved – perhaps even uncaring. And Eve took the bait. Sadly many take the
same bait today – but I am ahead of myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Eve
taking the bait is clear as she too calls YHWH God merely god. But she goes
further. Not only does Eve not correct the serpent’s words in Genesis 3:1,
which is a total trashing of YHWH God’s generous provision in Genesis 2:16-17,
she also distorts what YHWH God said. On the lips of Eve are words YHWH God never
said, “neither shall you touch it, lest you die.” Again, as far as we know, YHWH
God said no such thing. The serpent jumped on this continued distortion of God,
twisted things a bit more, and the rest of humanity – in fact all of creation –
have felt the brunt of the next decision for millennia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
like the words of Gordon Wenham as he says of Eve’s comment, “</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;">The
creator’s generosity is not being given its full due, and he is being painted
as a little harsh and repressive, forbidding the tree even to be touched. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Indeed,
the way “lest you die” follows “touch” suggests that not just eating it but
touching it may be lethal.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Brent/Documents/Journal/Blog/God's%20Story/11.20.13%20Which%20God.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><sup><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></sup></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
Eve, and then Adam, ate of the fruit, the gig was up. God’s Story says their
eyes were opened, and among other things, they hid from “god.” However, who is
it that shows up in Genesis 3:8? Yep, it is YHWH God once again (remember the
20x YHWH God is in act two as compared to the four times god is used here). This
shift back to YHWH God is significant. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
my sanctified imagination I cannot help but wonder if Adam & Eve were
hiding from “god” because since they did not immediately die, they thought He
was coming to finish them off. Yet the text says it was YHWH God who came
looking for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
may scoff at such a notion. But let me ask you. When you are caught in sin
(whatever it may be), do you run to God immediately, or do you hide it? Do you
run to the Body of Christ on earth (The Church), or do you isolate yourself from community and
cover it up? Answer truthfully…because if you do not, you will not be able to
appropriate the beauty of God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You
see, what is so amazing about God’s Story, and learning about God based on who
the Bible says He is, is that the God of the Bible is not much like what people
expect. I think many Christians cower from God in fear. I think many Christians
are afraid and ashamed of what they have done and are wondering how God could possibly
love them. Oh He may have loved me in the past…but I have crossed the line this
time… Whenever you think thoughts like that, you are thinking of a god, and not
YHWH God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
say this because what we see in Genesis 3:8 is that, even in the midst of their
rebellion, YHWH God moves toward Adam and Eve. Can you imagine that? The
Creator of everything, longing to be with the crowning point of His creation so
much that He seeks them out while they are hiding from Him – in fear and
rebellion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is much more that could be said about act two of Genesis. I am not sure I will
get to it before moving onto the next chapter in “The Story.” My goodness, I expected to do a short post per chapter highlighting something. Well...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But I want to
leave you with this encouragement; before you reject God…or hide from Him in
fear…make sure you know which God you are rejecting and/or hiding from. Is it a
god formed from a variety of readings and experiences? Or is it YHWH God, who reveals Himself in the Bible (and Jesus - but that is later), who is
at work undoing the effects of sin on His creation – which includes you reading
this right now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Brent/Documents/Journal/Blog/God's%20Story/11.20.13%20Which%20God.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> Gordon J. Wenham, <i>Genesis 1–15</i>, vol. 1, Word Biblical
Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1998), 73.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-48186889234146239232013-11-25T15:54:00.001-06:002013-11-25T15:54:44.662-06:00God's Story: Which God? [2]<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I did
some google searches a moment ago. I typed “who is god?” and got 1.25 Billion results
in .25 seconds. I also searched “What does god want?” and got 1.35 Billion
results in .39 seconds. I doubt there is enough time remaining in my life to
read the results from just one of those searches – let alone both – even if I
did nothing but read them. This reality can pose a variety of interesting questions.
Yet I will focus on one; where would people have found the answer to those
questions BG (before google)? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
realize there are many answers to the question. However, for our current
purpose, we will stick with one source – the Bible. While this may seem like a “no-brainer”
answer, it is surprising how many people have formed a view of God that is not
based on the Bible – and this goes for both Christians and those who are not
Christians. The outcome of this practice is not good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So,
last time I encouraged you to read Genesis 1:1-2:3 as “act one” and Genesis
2:4-3:24 as “act two.” Simply stated, “act one” shows us a god created; “act
two” shows us which God created and what this God desires. This can also be
stated as “act one” shows us creation in broad brushstrokes (like for a
painting), while “act two” focuses in on certain aspects of those brushstrokes
(like day six and events sometime after it). In other words, these are not
competing creation accounts; they are complementary vantage points of the same
creative act. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In act
one a generic word for god (or God as it is in the Bible) is used. This is why
I said “a god” in the above paragraph. There were lots of gods in the ancient
world…just as there are today (we just do not call them gods – but that is
another issue). An assertion that a god created would not have been earth
shattering in the ancient world. The real question would be which god(s)
actually did it. And as you can guess, this would be answered by whose creation
story you were reading. Yet there are still some striking elements to act one
in Genesis that clue the reader (or hearer) in a bit that something is
different. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
other words, the somewhat generic creation story in act one still makes some
startling claims. An example is on day four. In the text, when the sun and the
moon are created, they are called “the greater light” and the “lesser light”
(Gen1:16). This is significant as both the sun and the moon were viewed as gods
in many cultures – particularly in Egypt.<a href="file:///C:/Users/Brent/Documents/Journal/Blog/God's%20Story/11.20.13%20Which%20God.doc#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
In other words, the Bible begins by telling of a god who created everything, even
what others claim to be gods. Huh, that is interesting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now,
some may be bothered by my use of the lower case “g” in god. There is a reason
for this, and it becomes clear as we swiftly move into “act two.” In act two,
the account that looks at certain aspects of the broad brushstrokes of act one,
there is a shift from god to the LORD God (YHWH God from here on in the blog;
YHWH = The LORD). This shift is huge as YHWH was the personal, covenant name of
the God of the Bible. In other words, while act one makes some startling
claims, act two becomes even more alarming as the Hebrew people learn it is
their covenant God – YHWH God – who made everything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">And
now, for literary purposes, I will get a bit Jewish on you. In act one god is
mentioned 35 times. This may sound insignificant, but numbers were very
important to Jewish people (they are for us too – but in terms of $$$). Jewish
people (and other ancient cultures) were often more interested in the “weight”
of a number rather than the number’s “measure”. In other words, certain numbers
were significant, because of their weight, and at times this was the focus
rather than the actual numeric value we view as important (and let us not
forget that numbers “weigh” for us too – e.g., 13, or 9/11). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
number seven was one of their numbers for completion; using god 35 times in act
one is a complete number multiplied (7 * 5). There are other phrases and words in
act one which have numeric weight to them, but alas, we will move on. The point
here is what happens when we shift to act two. In act two, YHWH God is used 20
times (10 is another number of completion in Jewish thinking). Interestingly,
the generic word for god appears in act two as well. However, it only occurs
four times (yes, a number for completion…often attached to the earth; e.g., think
of four directions)…but what is astounding is <b><u>where</u></b> these four occurrences are in act two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">If
you do not remember from reading it, they all occur in Genes 3:1-5. These are
the verses where the serpent comes to Eve (and Adam) and asks, “Did <b><i>God</i></b>
actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Gen3:1). Make no
mistake about it, this is huge. The serpent, already introduced as crafty, does
not give the God of the Bible His full due. The words of the narrative (story)
shift in his mouth from YHWH God to god. In other words, from the personal,
covenant God to a distant, non-caring god…
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Even
more shocking, Eve reciprocates and does not correct the serpent. Eve says, “We
may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said…” Note, she did
not say “‘YHWH God’ said.” This reality is not some minor bit of trivia…this is
huge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">How
huge it is we will look at a bit more next time. Yet you can be thinking of
misrepresentations of the God of the Bible in the meantime. Until then
(hopefully tomorrow), try reading out loud – or better yet have someone read to
you – act two and see what you notice around the time the serpent enters the
picture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
there is major difficulty in act two…it is not all downhill from here. After
all, this is God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="edn1">
<div class="MsoEndnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Brent/Documents/Journal/Blog/God's%20Story/11.20.13%20Which%20God.doc#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> Christian tradition holds that Moses wrote
the first five books of the Bible, which would place them sometime <b><u>after</u></b> the departure from Egypt
(the exodus). This is a significant point as <b>a) </b>we should not read Genesis as a “reporting on the go” type of
document like the news of our day...or like a scientific explanation of the world, and <b>b)
</b>it points strongly to Genesis being a “polemic” (a verbal attack on something) on the worldview
the Hebrew people had been living among for over 400 years. </div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-18385233564527387272013-11-20T15:21:00.001-06:002013-11-20T15:21:27.530-06:00God's Story: Which God? <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In
the last post I mentioned how I am preaching through <i>The Story </i>where I serve. I plan to have a series of posts dealing
with an issue or two in each chapter of <i>The
Story</i> as I progress through it. But first a few disclaimers: <b>1) </b>there will likely (hopefully) be
other posts intermingled with this “God’s Story” series, and <b>2) </b>hopefully this will not die in the
realm of good writing intentions (I have had more than a few of those). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With
that said, chapter one in <i>The Story </i>covers
material found in Genesis 1-4 and Genesis 6-9. Granted, not every verse is
included as the editors selected what they thought were the more important passages
in order to accomplish their purpose. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
major issue I focused on in <a href="http://www.nlccoe.com/sermon/something-is-wrong/" target="_blank">this sermon</a> (from 9/8/13) was the importance of
knowing who God is based on what the Bible says about Him. While this may sound
a bit simplistic, it is foundational for learning more about God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let’s
be honest, everyone has a concept of God. Even if one’s concept of God is that
He does not exist, this is still a concept of Him. This concept is certainly
not accurate based on the Bible…but people who believe God does not exist do
not believe the Bible is truthful – which is a much different topic than I am
addressing here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
I am addressing here is that if we are going to open ourselves up to the
transformative power of God’s Story, then we need to have an accurate view of
God. We cannot base our view of God on our experiences or what we have been
told. This does not mean everything you have been told about God is untrue, or
that your experiences are not valid. Yet it does mean people can, and do,
misrepresent God (not always willfully, though sadly this is sometimes the
case), and God is bigger than our experiences (however joyful or painful they
may be). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
certainly do not have God all figured out and will not claim to as I write. Yet
it is sad to hear of perceptions of God, even some shared by Christians, which are
simply not true. This is why looking at the Bible is foundational to knowing God.
Actually, it is vital. The Bible must trump our experience and what we think we
know. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">With
that said, next time we will look at parts of Genesis 1-3. If you read it, I
want to encourage you to treat Genesis 1:1-2:3 as “act one” and Genesis
2:4-3:24 as “act two.” Trust me; it really is OK to ignore chapter and verse
divisions in the Bible. While they are helpful, they can also be a hindrance.
Oh yeah, a reason to read Genesis 1:1-2:3 as a unit is because Genesis 2:4
starts with “These are the generations…,” which is a phrase found numerous
times in Genesis – all of which start a new section (e.g., Gen5:1; 6:9; 11:10;
et al.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Until
next time, may the Spirit of God open our eyes to the truth of Who God is and
what He desires. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-53840235049720981312013-11-19T14:51:00.000-06:002013-11-19T14:51:15.541-06:00God's Story <div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">I
remember years ago – more than a few, but not too many…I am not that old you
know – when I just graduated from Bible College I had a thought. The thought occurred
to me while reading through the Bible; it would be cool to preach through the
entire Bible – like do a sermon per Bible book.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">At
the time I was not employed full time by any congregation. In fact, I was volunteering
quite a bit of time at a church while working various other jobs and getting
ready to start seminary. Yet the thought stayed with me – a sermon per Bible
book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
remember talking to an older, more mature, and wiser friend in the ministry
about the idea. He had the same idea when he was younger and started to preach
through the entire Bible, but did not finish for a variety of reasons. Yet the
thought stayed with me – a sermon per Bible book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
thought of preaching through the entire Bible, a sermon per book, is still with
me. I suppose it would be the “mother” of all sermon series. I mean a 66 week
series. Who does such a thing? This is more than a year! Yet more than this…it
is not having a Sunday off for over a year! While it is exciting, at times, to
think about a sermon per Bible book, couched in terms of no Sundays off for
over a year…it is not exactly a healthy thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
the thought of preaching a sermon per Bible book has not totally died within me…a
more compelling thought – birthed by the initial thought – has grown stronger.
The thought is the compelling power of God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
I did not know it at the time, what was driving me toward thoughts of preaching
through each Bible book in a series was a desire for people to know God’s
Story. God’s Story is the most powerful and compelling Story ever told. And by
Story I do not mean fiction. I mean Story in the sense of explanation of
reality – and where reality is moving. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">While
I am not preaching through each book of the Bible, I am preaching through God’s
Story right now. Since September I have been preaching through <i>The Story </i>as the people of New Life
Christian Church read along in it. If you are not familiar with it, <i>The Story </i>is a book of carefully
selected verses chronologically arranged from Genesis to Revelation. It is
intended to help God’s people understand God’s story as a seamless narrative of
God and His pursuit of relationship with mankind (I think that is one of Zondervan’s
descriptions of the book). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
will admit, when an elder approached me and the other elders about going
through <i>The Story </i>I was a bit
hesitant. However, after prayer, our discussing it, and realizing I like to
talk about God’s Story and have been for quite some time, we agreed to proceed
with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Granted,
I will not be preaching from every Biblical book (<i>The Story </i>is divided into 31 chapters), but I will be exposing
others – and myself – to the broad sweep of God’s Story. And this is a good
thing. So far we have done a 5-week mini series titled “Creation to Creation”
in which we looked at things from the creation in Genesis to the creation of a
people with the giving of the covenant at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 19. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Just
this past Sunday we finished another 5-week mini series titled “Rebellion to
Rebellion” in which we looked at the start of the wandering in the wilderness
in Numbers (due to their rebellion against God), and ended with Israel’s
rebellion by rejecting God as their King because they desired an earthly king
in the book of 1 Samuel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">When
Advent starts (December 1<sup>st</sup>) we will resume looking at <i>The Story </i>as we talk about “Longing for
The King.” We will look at some of the monarchy in Israel (e.g., David and
Solomon) in contrast to Jesus as King. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">God’s
Story is amazing. I am enjoying both reading in <i>The Story </i>as well as preaching from the Bible. However, there is at
least one unfortunate thing in going through it. I am having so many thoughts
of what to say and continue to study, that they are having to be left “left on
the shelf” for now. Oh well…there is never an end to the study and application
of God’s Story. It is The Story by which we are to view all of life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
will wrap this post up with what we have on some banners around our church
building: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
greatest Story ever told has the power to radically reshape your individual
story. Allow your story to get caught up and remade in God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
want every person to find Hope, Healing, and Purpose in their individual story
as they daily engage God’s Story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">God’s
Story starts in a Garden (Gen2:15) and ends in a Garden (Rev2:7) thanks to
Jesus’ obedience in another Garden (Mk14:36). Your story’s purpose is found in
this Story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Oh
God, grant us to see Your Story more clearly and live out It’s implications in
our lives – for Your glory. Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-10223799465081891772013-10-16T15:32:00.001-05:002013-10-16T15:32:43.079-05:00Concrete & Sand... [2]
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">So
what is behind the lunacy of my suggestion to make a life goal of following God
in the sand rather than in concrete? Well, simply stated, life. And the Bible, and
sin, and our weakness, and God’s faithfulness, and our power to choose. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let’s
be honest; life is difficult. The Bible does not hide this fact. Life is
difficult because sin has done a number on us – far greater a number than we
all too often realize I fear. We must also be clear, we are weak. And not only
is this OK to admit, it is necessary if you are to follow God. Yet while we are
weak, God is faithful. And when we acknowledge our weakness we can exercise our
power to choose – and choose Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A
reason I am suggesting a life goal of following God be made in the sand is
because (and please recall the <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2013/10/concrete-sand-1.html" target="_blank">analogy disclaimer</a> of yesterday) if you “draw a
line in the sand,” so to say (or place your handprint and initials in sand, to
keep with the concrete analogy of yesterday), and you want it to stay there
(meaning you mean it), you have to revisit it daily. If your decision to follow
God is made in concrete, you can mistakenly think that commitment will stand
the test of time – no matter if you revisit it or not. Make no mistake about
it, if you are going to resolutely follow God throughout your life, it is a
commitment you will have to daily revisit. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">A way
of revisiting this commitment is through thanksgiving. In fact, I am becoming
convinced that thanksgiving is the most fundamental thing we must do in
following God. When you revisit your “line in the sand,” you further etch it as
you recall what God has done for you. Yet in giving God thanks you dare not
stop with what He has done for only you. You must also thank God for what He
has done for others, for what He has done throughout history, and for what He
has done to advance His Kingdom. Thanksgiving is tantamount to trust in God. And
trust in God (or faith) is a prerequisite to following God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Another
reason I am suggesting a life goal of following God be made in the sand is
because your “line in the sand” will be met with challenges. We will call them
the “storms of life.” What happens to a line in the sand during a storm? Yep,
it gets washed away. At the least it becomes less noticeable. Have you ever
been guilty of running away from God when things got difficult in your life? If
you have not then congratulations, you and Jesus are the only ones to have
never done that! In other words, of course you have. Yet if you know your
commitment to follow God is in the sand, you know this commitment is susceptible
and in danger of being washed away and forgotten when times get hard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let’s
face it, pretty much all growth in life is through difficulty. Ever watch a
baby learn to walk? It is humorous for us...but can be painful and frustrating for
them. Ever watch world-class athletes? The grace and power and skill mask
countless hours of grueling workouts and sacrifice. Ever watch a skilled
laborer do their part in making a house? Have you ever considered their skills
have come through hours of learning as well as having made many mistakes? The
list of examples is endless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I
think a reason why so many followers of Jesus are struggling and practically infants
in their faith is because they do not embrace difficulty. When “life happens”
and things get hard, they turn to a variety of things rather than to God (just
to be clear, we have all done this). And all the while their line in the sand
is beaten and all but washed away. Tragically, in place of the commitment to
follow God (which includes relying on and trusting in Him), in deceptive ways
mind you, comes a commitment to whatever they turned to in the time of
difficulty (shopping, TV, giving into whatever thoughts enter their mind,
eating, cutting, being busy, etc.). Yes, to keep our line in the sand – our commitment
to follow God – we must revisit it daily. Indeed, often we need to revisit it multiple
times a day, especially when the storms of life come. And let’s be honest, what
day is totally “storm free” in your life? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There
are other reasons why I am suggesting a life goal of following God be made in
the sand, but those will have to wait for another time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-13743141694676300582013-10-15T16:30:00.000-05:002013-10-15T16:30:53.868-05:00Concrete & Sand... [1]
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Some
rather common wisdom concerning goals and achieving them is that you set your
goal in concrete and make your plans in sand. Behind this thinking is the
reality of life. Situations will arise, so how you plan to accomplish a given
goal may have to change. It is obviously easier to change something in the sand
than it is to change something etched in concrete. Furthermore, a goal made in
concrete connotes a sense of permanence and stability. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Yet when
it comes to following God, I am inviting you to consider with me the value of
placing this life goal in the sand and leaving concrete out of the picture all
together. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why would you even suggest
this?</i> Just read along please. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Haven’t
you ever read about the foolish and wise builders Jesus talked about?</i> Which
ones, those in Matthew 7 or those in Luke 14? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Have
you ever made (or seen) handprints in concrete? Examples with which I am
familiar are agrarian (perhaps because not many children want to ‘immortalize’
their handprint with a name in the city limits). When the pad was poured for
whatever (floor of a shop, approach to building, a sidewalk, etc.), a place was
reserved for handprints in the concrete accompanied with initials (sometimes
full names) and a date. It is kind of cool really. Yet, how often are those
memorials (which is what they seem to be) forgotten? Oh to be sure, a person
can revisit a site from their childhood and “remember when” if you will. Yet
how often do the events of “remember when” come back to their mind without
revisiting the site? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Let the reader understand, this
is an analogy. </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Analogies
do not prove truth, they illustrate truth. Furthermore, all analogies will
eventually break down at some point. So, let this be what it is – an analogy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">There
are many who have “made a goal in concrete,” if you will, and have not
revisited that goal in any substantial way for years. The intention is good: “I
will be faithful to you as my wife/husband” or “I will follow God
whole-heartedly” or “I am convicted, I will no longer ______”. A concrete
resolve is made, with good intentions, but over time it is ignored. Granted,
something might spur the person to “remember when,” but what follows the trip
down memory lane is not set in concrete. Indeed, the trip can go a few ways. For
some, it will embolden the person and they will recommit to their initial goal
in concrete. After all, they meant what they said. For others, it will lead to the
person being disheartened and defeated as they think, “Wow, a lot of good that
commitment did me…just like a lot of other things in my life – F.A.I.L.U.R.E. –
I may as well give up.” Yet they meant what they said as well...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
above is not only unfortunate. It is also tragic. Worse yet, it is also reality
day after day after day. What is the divorce rate in our culture? [And no, I am
not saying a lack of commitment is behind all divorces – there are many
factors] How many people have initially decided to follow God only to, at the least,
wane in that commitment if not fall away? How many have been convicted that
“this is the last time” only to return to it, or have it return – with a
vengeance? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">What
if the goal was made in sand? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realize
I involved some other goals above, but I will now return to the life goal of
following God – you can make the application for other life goals easy enough.
Yet...<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Made in sand? What, like something
that takes hardly any effort? Like something that can be easily washed away or
eroded?</i> To those inquiries I answer “No” and “Yes.” We will explore why
next time…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-16841533052165029552013-08-09T11:55:00.000-05:002013-08-09T11:55:14.717-05:00When I Slowed Down... On Monday of this week I stopped everything and ate. It was good. To be clear, "it" was not the food. Oh I am sure the food was good, and if I thought hard enough I could likely recall what leftover food from home I ate. Yet what I mean by "it was good," is the experience I had. So...what happened? <br />
<br />
Simply stated; I ate, observed my surroundings, contemplated things, and struggled to stay "slowed down." <br />
<br />
If you think about it, having an abundance of food is a recent luxury. Granted, throughout history the wealthy could enjoy an abundance of food. Yet the majority of the world was not wealthy, and often food was scarce. A reality is, for much of the world today, food is still a precious commodity. Indeed, it is for those of us who are not "food poor" as well. Yet in a busy pace it is easy for food to become an assumed and simple given. <br />
<br />
As I observed my surroundings I noticed the leaves rustling with the wind. When I take the time to notice this, it is rare if my thoughts do not turn to the Spirit of God. The Spirit is always at work, desiring to bring about transformation. The question is, for followers of Jesus at least, "Are we willing counterparts to what He desires?" <br />
<br />
I also observed the busyness all around me. I-35 was to my left (south) and Old Highway 50 was to my right (north). There was not a moment when my eyes lacked a vehicle to observe. I find this amazing given how I could only see about 200 yards of either roadway from where I sat. We live in a fast paced world. Unfortunately, it is often this fast pace that blinds us to the continual working of the Spirit. God can, and does, work quickly at times. Yet His greater work is most often a process which takes great lengths of time...sometimes an entire lifetime. <br />
<br />
As I observed the busyness around me, I wondered about the people driving by. Were some people on vacation? Were some commuting to work? Were some working and transporting goods? I also wondered how many of those people know God's Story. I do not mean have they heard about God...but rather, do they know His Story? <br />
<br />
As I ate, reflected, and observed what was around me...I also had to struggle to keep focused on being slowed down. More than once my mind drifted to what I could be doing. It did not take long to think, "Hey, I could blog about this...it has been a long time since I have written a blog."<br />
<br />
I am convinced that living in the present is something many struggle to do. For some their present is too painful, so they think of better days gone by or blame others for their pain. For some their present is too boring, so the next new adventures fill their mind or they despair over their "pitiful" life. For some their present is filled with doubt, anxiety, worry, fear, and a host of other things - so precious time is filled with everything from workaholicism to escapism.<br />
<br />
Yet for the follower of Jesus, the present ought to be the most joy filled place one could ever be. A Christian can face the uncertainties of the present based on the reality of an amazing future (Jesus' return which will usher in the Kingdom of God in fullness), which is assured by the past (The Christ Event - which includes Jesus' Resurrection - as Satan and all the forces of this world have been defeated). Granted, this does not make the present "easy" - but that is OK. Yet it does make the present worthwhile and manageable, and that is a huge and healthy shift for many.<br />
<br />
Ultimately what happened when I slowed down was I opened myself up a bit more to a healthy rhythm of life. It has been said that idleness is the devil's tool in the hands of many. While there is truth to that, I think idleness (perhaps some would prefer to call it stillness...or slowing down...or downtime...) is a tool of the Holy Spirit that God's people need to allow Him to wield. <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-27158206916748806582013-08-07T09:31:00.000-05:002013-08-07T09:31:33.114-05:00I Slowed Down The Other Day...It was a Monday, two days ago, and things were going well - extremely well. I was back from some time away; both time off (vacation days spent mostly around home/Emporia), and time away to work on things for New Life (at an Abbey in Athchison), and I was being productive. While being productive is not a huge accomplishment, after all, it goes with having a job. Yet being as productive as I was on my first day back from time off is a big accomplishment - at least for me. <br />
<br />
And in the midst of all of this productivity I did something extremely out of character for me. I stopped. In the past I would have kept going, kept being productive. Yet when I got hungry for my mid-day meal I not only ate...but I stopped everything and ate.<br />
<br />
If I am not eating with my biological family, I work through my meals. I realize I am a guy, but I can multi-task if one of the things involves eating. So I spend my meal breaks reading, doing email, or something productive. Yet Monday, for the first time in a <u style="font-weight: bold;">long</u> time, I stopped. I sat outside, in the shade, and ate. It was good. I cannot remember what I ate...but I hope I will never forget what happened.<br />
<br />
I must be honest, I did not conclude I needed to do this (stop everything and eat) on my own. Two weeks before, during mid-day prayer while at the Abbey, one of the monks thanked God for this break from the labor of the day to enjoy a meal...this time to rest. It resonated, deeply, with me.<br />
<br />
Meals are an increasingly big thing for me - but most of that is tied in with the Eucharist (Lord's Supper or Communion if you prefer) - and I am not going into that here. Yet at the Abbey I was struck with how I often rifle through a meal, working...and not resting and taking a break from my toil.<br />
<br />
What happened as I ate? I will go into that next time. Yet in the meantime I encourage you to slow down, stop everything, and eat. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-10164640316936120422013-03-05T11:31:00.000-06:002013-03-05T11:31:14.097-06:00I Am Convinced...
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I am sure you noticed the title for this
post did not end with a period (.), but rather with an ellipsis (…). This is
because I have been pondering a thought for quite some time now, and I believe
it is now time to hesitantly share it…while leaving some room for modification (hence the ellipsis). Here is the statement; it is harder to live for Jesus here
in our culture than it is in other cultures. Of this reality I am
convinced…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another reason I use an ellipsis instead
of a period, is because my experience is in this culture. I have only read
about following Jesus in other cultures; I have not experienced it. So allow me
to cut to the chase again, phrased a bit differently, following Jesus is harder
in our culture than in other cultures… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have pondered this statement for a
while for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it is one thing to ponder something, but it is another to put it out there for consumption. Quite often in my mind I
think if my life does not reflect what I put out there, then what is my basis
for making the statement? In other words; “practice what you preach”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Granted, I am all for practicing what I preach.
Yet we need to understand something; if someone highlights an issue or a
problem, and for some reason their life does not match up to “the solution,”
this does not mean the issue or problem is false or irrelevant. E.g., around
26,000 children will die today (and tomorrow, and the next day) from a lack of
food or some other poverty-related issue. However, just because I am going to likely
eat more than the bare minimum needed for survival on most days, and drive a
car rather than walk to work, does not negate the reality that 26,000 children
are going to die of preventable causes. In other words, just because I have not
reduced the “stuff” in my life to what seems to be drastic measures (by our
standards), this does not negate the truth of poverty devouring life on this
earth. Truthfully, I think far too many Christians play the “Well yeah, but
what are you doing about it?” card in order to somehow justify their lack of
doing anything. Let us call that for what it is – sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OK, now back to why I am convinced it
is harder to follow Jesus here than in other cultures. Simply stated, it is
easy to know following Jesus is costly if a gun is pointed to your head for
your professed belief (or a machete is being repeatedly lowered on your leg, or
your house is being bombed, or your children are being targeted for death
because the persecutors know they can no longer keep you silent by threatening merely
your life), as you are given an option to repent. On the other hand, it is not
so easy to tell following Jesus is costly when we are faced with upgrading to a
nicer automobile (or home, or cable package, or brand of clothes) when what we have is honestly, and quite often, more than enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On one hand, the above examples of “it
is easy to tell” and “it is not so easy to tell” can easily be expounded. Yet on
the other hand, we must not be fooled into thinking this applies only in the
realm of materialism. However we cannot deny Jesus bluntly states “the deceitfulness of
riches and the desires for other things choke the word, and it proves
unfruitful” (Mk4:19). No wonder Jesus told a guy to sell all he had and give it
to the poor (Mk10:21).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you are still reading, let me briefly
expand this difficulty in following Jesus in our culture beyond the realm of
materialism. For example, in a culture where your very life depends on unity
and harmony in the body it is likely “easier” to reconcile and forgive an
offense. Yet in our culture, where one can just leave one church and go to the
next, or choose not to talk and reconcile with someone because the stakes for
unity and harmony do not seem so obvious, well then forgiveness and
reconciliation are easily viewed as an option. S<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">imilarly, it is perhaps “easier” to be blinded to the reality of how
our actions impact others here as well. Yet </span>I recall Paul saying something about
protecting the Unity the Spirit has gifted to The Church (Eph4:3), and Jesus
saying the world will know we are His disciples by how we love one another
(Jn13:34-35; cf. Jn17:20-23). Those do not sound like optional aspects of
following Jesus. Indeed, they are not; we are only deceived into thinking they
are. Let us again call that for what it is – sin. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We live in a culture that teaches us to
be self-centered, not self-denying. We live in a culture that teaches us to be
independent, not dependent on God for everything. We live in a culture that
teaches us things are disposable, not a resource to be leveraged for the
Kingdom. We live in a culture that tells us relationships are replaceable, not valuable
and worth fighting to preserve. We live in a culture that tells us unity is
important so long as it does not cost us anything, not to go to extreme
measures to protect it. We live in a culture that teaches us to consume will
bring ultimate happiness and fulfillment, not that it leads to addiction and emptiness.
We live in a culture that teaches us so many things contrary to God’s desires
are acceptable, the norm, or just the way our culture is so we may as well
accept it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think many people seeking to follow
Jesus struggle with things in this post…yet sadly I think many have been placated
into at least a partial resignation to the way things are. Yeah, it is harder
to follow Jesus here than in other cultures, of this I am more convinced…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">So, I turn to God in prayer; thankful for His grace...yet expressing my desire to respond to It more fully. I realize this is a battle I cannot win on my own; of that I am convinced. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-50001385351920284582013-03-01T15:53:00.000-06:002013-03-01T15:53:12.767-06:00Shoveling Snow & Lent [2]
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As we concluded our time together
pondering shoveling snow and Lent last time, I stated, “the reality of sin in
our lives can and does lead to jarring impacts…So what is one to do?”. Well, we
will consider what to do in a moment. Yet before we do that let me start with
an analogy, which I hope will prove to be helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If 20” or so of snow falls in a 24 hour
period, it will eventually have to be removed. If it is not, getting in and out
of one’s driveway will prove to be hazardous, if not impossible. Indeed, the snow
will need to be removed from the driveway, sidewalk, etc. Well, there is the option of letting nature take its
course and allowing the snow to melt. Yet aside for the soon to be seen irony with
that choice, let us simply acknowledge that will make getting around your place
extremely difficult and treacherous for quite some time. In fact, many people
could even get hurt in the process. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Since the snow needs removed, one has a
few options, of which we will look at two. One option is to wait until it is
all done snowing, at least as best as one can tell, and then remove all 20” of snow
at once. Another option is to go out a few times during the snowstorm and
remove smaller amounts; obviously this will include scooping snow more than once
to finish the job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Option one, shoveling 20” of snow at one
time, is no small feat. Even for someone in good physical condition, it will
take a lot of time and effort. In fact, one may need to stop a time or two
while doing a driveway, sidewalk, and/or deck. Indeed, doing this much snow at
once would likely seem to be a daunting and impossible task. One might even get
frustrated and discouraged while doing it – especially if one were doing it
alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In option two, lesser amounts of snow
could be done at breaks in the day – especially if it were a true “snow day”
(i.e., a day without normal work). One could scoop a few inches shortly after
waking up, scoop some more upon returning from work late in the morning (or
else risk getting stranded away from home), then go back out in the afternoon,
and perhaps in the evening as well. To be certain, this will still take time
and effort, but the overall time and effort will be less. Well, the time might
be a bit more, but I doubt it. Yet for certain the strain on one’s back is much
less in dealing with 3-6” of snow multiple times as opposed to 20” at once. In fact, you
cannot manually scoop 20” of snow at once. Indeed, one would be forced to scoop
their way down to the bottom; either straight down or by taking a layer, then
doing another layer, and likely another layer (not to mention those difficult icy footprints and tire tracks on the bottom layer). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now what does this have to do with sin?
Actually, I would not be surprised if many of you already know where I am going
with this. When it comes to sin in our lives we have two basic choices: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a) </b>let it pile up until something has
to be done with it – usually because of some sort of consequence or difficulty
one now faces, or <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b) </b>deal with it as
it occurs in one’s life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Simply stated, dealing with sin is
difficult; there is always fallout – somewhere. What do I mean by fallout? I
mean your sin <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>never</u></b> impacts
only you…it impacts others around you as well. We can pretend it does not, but
it always does (e.g., read the Bible). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I would like to expound on the above
analogies and draw comparisons, but I think you all can do that. So, instead of
that, I will give an example of “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a</b>”
and “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b</b>” with a common sin that is
often overlooked – anger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Actually, I will not. Not this time at
least. I will simply end by stating the fact; sin has to be dealt with – sooner
or later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It can “accumulate” in one’s life until
it is “too big” and “too daunting” and therefore people feel defeated before
they ever start to address it. This is option “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a</b>” above. Or, one can live a repentant life and deal with sin as
they are convicted by the Holy Spirit (option “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b</b>”). To be certain, this still takes effort and is daunting at
times…but it is much more manageable – not to mention godly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oh yes, there is also a “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">c</b>” option, you know, the “irony” from
the second paragraph of this post. This option is to do nothing and let nature
run its course. Well, in the course of sin – it is death. Granted, for those “in
Christ” things are different…but it certainly leads to a lot of frustration, a lack
of fruit, in short – bondage to the forces of darkness. This should never be
the option of a follower of Jesus. Yet sadly, and ironically, it is often chosen; sometimes
by default, other times as a preference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We will continue again – likely by
showing options “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">a</b>” and “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">b</b>” in relation to anger. Who knows,
maybe option “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">c</b>” will be included, I
do not know. Yet this I do know, Jesus came to ‘destroy' the works of the devil
(1Jn3:8). Yes, take heart, Jesus has overcome the world! (cf. the Bible). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-36850683889862442462013-02-22T16:11:00.000-06:002013-02-22T16:11:17.544-06:00Shoveling Snow & Lent [1]<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Shoveling snow and Lent huh? What do
they have to do with one another? Well, I like snow. I do not like sin. I am
growing in my appreciation of Lent. Yet on top of that; this is the season of Lent,
we got a lot of snow yesterday where I live (KS), and sin – well, sin is pretty
much everywhere. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet there is more to the connection of
snow, sin, and Lent than their current presence all around me at the moment. However, their current presence was certainly the inspiration for this and some
following posts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Many in the Christian faith are familiar
with the concept of their sins being washed “whiter than snow”. One’s knowledge
of this could be via a text in Isaiah 1:18; “Come now, let us reason together,
says YHWH, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (ESV). One’s knowledge
of this concept may have come through a song, of that title, by James L.
Nicholson. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lord
Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I
want Thee forever to live in my soul.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Break
down every idol, cast out every foe;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Refrain<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whiter
than snow, yes, whiter than snow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To be certain, it is assuring to know
that even though sin has left its ugly mark on every single one of us, thanks to
Jesus, we can indeed be “whiter than snow”. I can hardly think of that concept
without having Romans chapter five come to mind – how God acted on my (our) behalf while I
was still a sinner. Yes, because of Jesus I can be justified; I can be “whiter than snow”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I imagine the concept of being “whiter
than snow” likely comes to one’s mind more readily when looking at fresh snow.
After all, it is a peaceful picture, and taking that concept into our lives
and how we are that way with God can be a comforting reality. Yet there is a
hidden reality, if you will, under the pristine and unblemished fresh snow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An elderly couple lives across the
street from us; whenever it snows I clear their driveway as well. I will never
forget the first time I cleared it. Why? Well, I did our driveway first and
then headed over to theirs. In doing ours I had become accustomed to giving
hard shoves and pushes to move the snow across the even driveway. Yet as I
attempted this on their driveway I came to more than one shoulder-jarring (and
back-jarring and wrist-jarring) halt. Why? Their driveway has a variety of
cracks in it. Yet on top of that, grass and weeds had grown up in those cracks,
and while they were now either dead or dormant, the left behind foliage added
to the difficulty of snow shoveling. In other words, not only did I have to
shovel the snow, I also had to feel my way for cracks, and then chop through
the foliage in order to clear their driveway. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, again you may be wondering – snow? sin?
Lent? – I am not getting it. The issue is this. Despite the “whiter than snow”
gift those “in Christ” have…a reality still exists. This reality is sin. Even
the most beautiful snowfall only obscures what is really beneath the surface. In
the case of our neighbor’s driveway it was a lot of cracks that made shoveling
snow more challenging (and time-consuming). This is where Lent comes in. An aspect of Lent is
preparing oneself for Resurrection Sunday (Easter) by taking a more serious
look at sin in our own lives. Sin is present in your life; sometimes in obvious ways, but at other
times sin is lurking beneath an otherwise pristine surface. What will you do about it?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Just to be clear, I am not downplaying
the truth of “whiter than snow” – yet I am calling us to not downplay the
reality of sin in our lives either. While we may be “pure” in God’s sight…the reality
of sin in our lives can and does lead to jarring impacts. These impacts affect not only our lives, but the lives of those
around us as well. So what is one to do? We will look at that next time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-58213296327870244882013-01-25T16:16:00.000-06:002013-01-25T16:16:28.845-06:00Honesty With God <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Every now and then I make some rather
audacious statements concerning Christianity. I suppose making these types of
statements, for me, is a natural out flowing of seeking to be faithful to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I made one such audacious statement in a
sermon the last Sunday of 2012. I sought to brace the people of New Life so it
would not catch them completely off guard. I warned them that some would not
like what I was about to say…but I was OK with that. However, I did relay my
hope that they would ponder and pray about the statement and hopefully come to
a point of agreeing with it in the near future. I went on to say that God knows
what He is doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I kept going for a bit, but it seemed my
point was missed, so I let them know I had made my audacious statement – God knows
what He is doing. This promptly drew a few chuckles and not a few puzzled looks.
So I added that we ought to give the Creator of everything the benefit of the
doubt – He knows what He is doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was serious when I said it then, and am
serious while writing about it now. We, the finite creation, need to give the
Infinite Creator of EVERYTHING the benefit of the doubt and trust He knows what
He is doing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, this may sound nice, but what
difference does it actually make? Is there any impact for my life you may ask.
Yes, there is. The benefits that come from being honest with God are immense. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Think back to when you were a kid. Did
you ever get in trouble? If you did not please feel free to stop reading right
now. Better yet, call your parents and ask them (if you still have contact with
them that is). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, did you ever try and deny what
you did, while not knowing your parents knew what you did, and therefore receive
a more harsh punishment? Conversely, did you ever confess what you did and get
a bit lighter punishment? Some may be
able to relate to this analogy, others may not. Regardless, it is a way to
understand something about God. Namely, honesty with God is a good thing. When
we are honest with Him there is forgiveness and empowerment. Yet when we are
dishonest with Him there is bondage and misery.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A lot of God’s people need to be honest
with Him and confess a variety of things. Think of all the problems in The
Church right now. A lack of forgiveness leads to people leaving churches, and
worse yet, splitting churches. Materialism is out of control, which leads to
next-to-nothing giving (on the overall scale) and needs being unnecessarily
unmet all around us – and the world. A
lack of prayer leads to people not seeking God’s guidance and will for their
lives; simultaneously they go about living their lives as if they have no need
for God. This is further shown by a lack of reading in God’s Word while making
time for newspapers, magazines, TV shows, recreation, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I realize all of those can have their
justifications. For lack of time I will not mention any, only to provide what I
hope to be a future <b><u>link</u></b>. Yet
justifications are not confession…and they will keep people in bondage to the
habits, and whatever else, is influencing them.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, what is one to do? Well, in light the
audacious thought of “God knows what He is doing,” how about doing the
following. Find Scripture that addresses a certain issue with which you
struggle, read it, <b>be honest with God</b>,
and ask for help. It would look something like this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you struggle with forgiveness read Matthew
5:43-48 (where Jesus tell us to love our enemies), you might also read Matthew
18:21-35 (a parable about unforgiveness). Then say something like, “God, I am
not there right now…I can’t forgive this person…what is more, I don’t really
even want to forgive this person…yet I know Your word tells me I must forgive
them…God, please help me…please give me a desire to forgive because right now I
do not even have it…and honestly, I don’t even want that desire…<b>BUT I trust You more than I trust me</b>.”<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That may sound foolish, but I assure
you, it is not. It is not because of a few things: <b>1) </b>you are in God’s word, <b>2)
</b>you are praying to (communicating with) God, <b>3) </b>you are being honest with God, and <b>4) </b>it opens the door for God to do what only He can do. Seriously,
do you think He is unaware of your lack of a desire to forgive someone? Do you
really want to continue to feel bad for not reading or praying? Do you really
want to live in disobedience while being deceived by the evil one? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I did not think so. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I challenge you to try this method with
whatever issue you are facing in your life. For some, it may need to start by
reading 2 Corinthians 4:4 (Satan blinding eyes), 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (taking
thoughts captive), and Matthew 4:9 (showing Satan’s ownership of this world).
Satan (though defeated and bound) is alive and well enough to cause havoc in
the lives of anyone – including those seeking to follow God. Maybe we all need
to beg God to be merciful and reveal where we are being deceived by the evil
one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">None of us are above that…and after all,
honesty with God is a good thing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-29035081059892014742013-01-24T15:44:00.000-06:002013-01-24T15:44:44.608-06:00Is Your Gospel Too Small? <br />
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 1) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">this is a post rife with difficulties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 2) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">this is a post with much left unwritten.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 3) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">this is a post with which some in The Church may struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 4) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">this is a post with which some in the world may struggle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 5) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">the struggles of <b>#3 </b>and <b>#4 </b>are
not the same struggles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 6) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">this is a post I am humbly undertaking...I am open to dialog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Disclaimer 7) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">the implications of this post, and all the above disclaimers,
point to the beauty of God’s Story (albeit incompletely).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is, perhaps, nothing more central to the
Christian message than the gospel. I suppose an accurate equation could be
“Gospel = Christian Message.” And here is where our list of disclaimers becomes
a factor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">The above disclaimers now engage us because I am
using human language in an attempt to describe that which is, ultimately,
indescribable – God and the things of God. Now this is not to say our human
language is useless in talking about God. Yet it is to say human language
continually falls short when talking about God. There is too much left unsaid,
unknown, incomplete, and quite honestly open to wrong interpretation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example; to talk of God as Father is a
Biblical truth (e.g., Deut1:30-31; Ps68:4-6; Mt5:45; 6:9; Rom1:7; Rev1:6, and
Mk14:36; Rom8:15; Gal4:6). Yet for many, to think of God as “Father,” is quite
unpleasant (even repulsive) because their earthly father was abusive, distant,
sexually exploitative, or perhaps even unknown. This illustrates a
struggle/tension concerning cataphatic and apophatic statements about God. What
those strange terms mean is this: cataphatic statements are positive statements
about God and apophatic statements are negative statements about God. So in
relation to “God is Father” we need to understand He is indeed “Father”
(apophatic), but He is unlike any earthly father you have ever known
(apophatic). Unfortunately, all of our earthly fathers fell short of giving us,
their children, God’s best. Equally unfortunately, as a father now, I know I
fall short of giving my children God’s best. There is a real (and often
ignored) danger which must be worked through by everyone seeking to follow Jesus.
The danger is that of seeing God – the Heavenly Father – through the lens of
their earthly father. God is indeed “Father,” but not like any father you have
known.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wow, I think I now need to add <b>Disclaimer
8) </b>“at some point I am bound to ramble and get a bit off topic,” and <b>Disclaimer
9) </b>“by God’s grace He will bring me back around to making something
resembling coherent sense – and the ramble will be helpful in some way...I
hope,” and for good measure, <b>Disclaimer 10) </b>“thank you for
continuing to read this post.” OK, that is not really a disclaimer; I just
wanted another to end on one of the numbers used for completion in the Bible
(Bible study insider joke).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">All of that said, what is the gospel? A rather
standard answer in Christian circles is Paul’s description in 1 Corinthians
15:1-8 (or so) - "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">2 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">and by which you are
being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed
in vain. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">3 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also
received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">4 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">5 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">and that he appeared to
Cephas, then to the twelve. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">6 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time,
most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">7 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then he appeared to
James, then to all the apostles. </span><b><sup><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">8 </span></sup></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to
me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We will talk about this very important text in
due time. Yet for now I simply want to make two observations about the word
“gospel.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Observation 1) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">the Greek word underlying gospel [</span><span lang="EL" style="font-family: KadmosU;">εὐαγγέλιον</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">]
means “good news.” This can be seen with the prefix “eu” – good; cf. eulogy – a
“good word” about someone in a funeral service, and the word root “angelos” –
messenger; cf. “angel” – a messenger, who may in fact be preternatural. So at
its core the gospel is “good news.” However, this leads us to…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Observation 2) </span></b><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">the word “gospel” is a completely relative term. In other words,
what is “good news” for one may well be “bad news” for someone else. In fact,
this is how the nouns and verbs related to “gospel” are used in the Old
Testament.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, the death of King Saul was spread
as “good news” (verb form) for the Philistines (1Sam31:9). Yet while lamenting
this news David does not want it “published” (verb form) lest more Philistines
rejoice (2Sam1:20). In other words, the “good news” of Saul’s death was not so
good for the people of Israel – even if some thought it could be leveraged to
their advantage (cf. 2Sam4:10 – both noun and verb forms).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">So where does all of this leave us? It leaves us
with a few more disclaimers: <b>Disclaimer 11) </b>“this will not be
the only post on this topic,” and <b>Disclaimer 12) </b>“I pray these
words and thoughts will continue to shape me and all who read them.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">It also leaves us, I hope, with the door at
least open to the possibility that “the gospel” is larger – and I will add more
beautiful – than we ever realized. Perhaps even more beautiful than we ever
dared to dream or imagine. But yet…isn't that so like God? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-38594460190997452572013-01-21T15:59:00.001-06:002013-01-25T16:18:47.365-06:00Bigger Than "Pay It Forward" <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">If I were a better historian of our
culture, with more time, I would further develop the forthcoming statement for
you. Yet given my limitations I will simply state it; there are identifiable
movements and ways of doing things that can be traced back to a point of
origin. Similarly the popularization of, basically about anything, can be
traced back to a point of origin(s). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This can be viewed as cause and effect.
Yet at the same time there is an aspect of it that is so much bigger than “a” led
to “b” which led to “c”. It seems to be more of an Event and response. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A relatively modern example is how the
idea of “paying it forward” is somewhat common in our culture – both in the vernacular and practice. While I will not deny the reality of people
using the phrase and implementing the principle before the year 2000, at least my awareness of its frequency can be traced back to the
popularity of a movie by the same phrase ("Pay It Forward") starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and
Haley Joel Osment. If you are unfamiliar with the movie you can <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pay_It_Forward" target="_blank">click here for a synopsis</a> (by the way, there is another strand of thinking here [i.e., "my awareness"] I
will hopefully pick up in another post). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now why state all of that? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I state all of that because at times I am
blessed to be able to help people in a monetary way. A way this happens is
through the generosity of people where I serve (<a href="http://www.nlccoe.com/" target="_blank">New Life Christian Church in Emporia, KS</a>). When helping whomever, I make sure to let them know how
it is even possible for me to be helping them. In other words, I make it clear I am helping
them on behalf of a community of people who give just a bit more each week to make this help possible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There have been times when the one(s)
being helped talk about paying us back. I ultimately leave the ball in their court, but I
make it clear that they are under no such obligation. I reemphasize how our motivation for doing
this is simple; we are seeking to respond to God, and in doing so want others
to know there is a God who loves them and is concerned about their situation.
Often they reply with a thought of “paying it forward” to someone else (i.e., "payback" the deed, but not to the one who helped them, rather to someone else in need). </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">I understand this is a bit of
a natural response. I agree it is better than simply receiving and receiving and receiving. Yet what I want those who have been helped to understand, or at least consider, is that they ought to take a second look at God if they are not following Him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At its core, it seems the thought of "pay it forward" is to help make the world a better place. This is commendable. Yet is also a recipe for failure. This is why I mention the "Event and response" above in the second paragraph. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I say "pay it forward" is a recipe for failure because, sadly, everyone is prone to think - sooner or later - that they are giving too much, that others can help themselves, that this person was not truly grateful, etc. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In light of that, what I want people to
realize is that when God’s people respond and give, it is not like paying it
forward. It is people responding to an Event that has impacted and forever altered their lives. The cause of this Event is God - He deserves a second look if someone is not following Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yet I want to be clear that the God who is deserving of a second look is quite possibly "not the same" god they heard about in the past. This is a God who desires His Church to be the hands and
feet of Jesus in a broken and hurting world. A God who has such a beautiful and
compelling story that when it is understood it does not ignore evil, the faults
of His own people, or anything like that. Rather, His Story says those things will not
have the last word and that God's purpose of redemption for the world will come to
fruition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I realize some reading this may not be
open to that right now. I can appreciate that. In light of this possible
reality, I want to simply add that <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2013/01/honesty-with-god.html" target="_blank">honesty with God is a good thing</a>. And given
the implications of God’s Story, there is good reason to be honest with Him. Yet
that is another post for another day…<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-87308508003315512122013-01-04T16:25:00.001-06:002013-01-04T16:25:44.086-06:00Christmas Season [5]<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merry Christmas everyone! Yes, it still is X-mas...for a few more days that is. Here is a post from last year, just before the end of the Christmas Season. I hope to have a follow-up post in a few days with further reflections, clarifications, and possibly retractions.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><b>A Post from last Christmas...</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">For the last time until next December, Merry Christmas!! Oh I know it seems like Christmas was like a year ago now [hahaha ;) ]. Yet it truly is still Christmas!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Again, I say this because Christmas is a season, not merely a day. The Christmas Season, of which there are 12 days, ends today with Epiphany. Therefore many churches will celebrate Epiphany this coming Sunday. The distinction between the Christmas Season and the cultural way of celebrating Christmas is significant – even if someone in our culture seeks to keep a focus on Jesus. The reality is a day can be quickly forgotten once it is gone, no matter how good it was. Granted, a focus on a day can produce many great memories. Yet a season – a celebration – can make more than great memories. Indeed, it can lay a foundation for a longer lasting impact while setting the stage for godly memories to be made for generations to come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So what if we really worked at celebrating the Christmas Season? Now I suppose a way many would be thrilled to do this is if we took 12 days off as opposed to one (well, all but the self-employed that is). Yet I am not talking about 11 more days of vacation. I am talking about continually pondering, and seeking to implement, implications of the Incarnation. The truth that nearly 2,000 years ago Jesus came to earth and lived among us is life-altering. The Anointed One of God, the savior, the Christ – the King, living among us…showing us how to live…bringing people into community…showing us how to love…showing us how to confront religious distortions and apathy…indeed showing us what it means to be truly human. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Epiphany is the climax of the Christmas Season. It recalls the coming of the Wisemen, or Magi, to see Jesus the toddler. Ah yes, the King of the world…quite unassuming with skinned knees and more than a few bruises on his little body no doubt. While we do not know for certain, it is believed these Magi came from the area of Babylon. The significance of this blossoms when we begin to see what Matthew is showing us in his gospel in conjunction with some things in the book of Daniel. Succinctly, Matthew is showing Jesus as King. These Magi show up and worship the toddling Jesus as a King. These Magi were Gentiles – i.e., not of Jewish ethnicity. This foreshadows the inclusive nature of God’s Kingdom which Jesus came to establish. Now let us turn to Daniel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Daniel clearly shows the sovereignty of God despite current circumstances. On the surface it seems the gods of Babylon have proven to be more powerful than the God of Israel, YHWH. After all, Israel is now in exile. Yet in chapter one verse two we read, “</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand…</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">” The “his hand” is Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon from verse one. In other words, while it may appear “old Nebby-K” is ruling and calling the shots, YHWH is truly in charge. The reason why Israel/Judah was in exile was their lack of worship, and all it entails, of YHWH. This makes certain scenes in Daniel beautifully ironic as God works in such ways that pagan people praise His greatness when His own covenant people did not. One example of this is toward the end of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s encounter with a blazing hot fire (or Rack, Shack and Benny if you are a Veggie Tales fan). After God saves these three, Nebuchadnezzar blesses their God (Dan3:28) and then says, “</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">(save)</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in this way.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">” – High praise indeed for the one true God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Now consider this. Daniel and his three friends (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) had other encounters with the people of Babylon. These encounters included the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans (cf. Dan2:2) – all of whom were confronted with a God more powerful than anything they could imagine. More than likely some of these people began to worship this “</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">God of gods and Lord of kings</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">” (cf. Dan2:47). Daniel tells of </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">one like a Son of Man</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> in chapter seven coming to the earth to receive a kingdom. This “one like a Son of Man” is also the rock of chapter two which breaks the grand statue (representing kingdoms of the earth – including Babylon) in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to pieces. And in Matthew’s gospel (written primarily for a Jewish audience) he shows Magi (from the area of Babylon) showing up to worship this foretold King. This is beyond cool – this is revolutionary. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Epiphany celebrates the “revealing” of the Christ to the Gentiles (i.e., all not ethnically Jewish). As such it looks ahead to the reason why The Church exists – to advance the Kingdom of God everywhere for everyone. What a fitting climax to the significance of the Christmas Season!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I am certain you have heard there were three Wisemen (Magi) – e.g., “We Three Kings of Orient Are”. Yet you will not find that number in the second chapter of Matthew. You will find three gifts, but more than likely Matthew highlighted those three because of their significance. At any rate, let us go along with this tradition and say the “three kings” were Caspar, Balthasar and Melchior. A symbol for Epiphany, which is often painted above the entry door to a house in some cultures, is +C+B+M+ <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.crivoice.org/cyepiph.html" target="_blank">The symbols are as follows</a>: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">the cross (+) represents Christ, the letters (C,B,M) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">represent the supposed names of the (supposed) </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">three Magi. Added to this symbol is the year – so for us it would be 20+C+B+M+12. Since in this symbol the letters represent the three Magi (Gentiles) who came to worship the true King let us add an accurate twist to the symbol. [Also, I am not saying to put this over the entry door to your house – a piece of paper you carry with you, display somewhere visible to you, perhaps put in your Bible (i.e., multiple copies) will suffice.] </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Try this: write out the symbol but put in the first letter of the names of three people you know who need to submit themselves to Jesus and truly worship the King (e.g., 20+__+__+__+12). Pray for these people regularly; ask God to continue to work in their lives, to open their eyes to His love and majesty, to work in you to speak when the time is right and show the love of Jesus at all times to them. After all, all who are Gentiles now are those who are not a part of the people of God. I.e., it is no longer ethnicity that makes one a child of God (thank you Jesus). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">This is an accurate focus on the implications of the Incarnation. There are people, we all know, who need to come and truly worship the King. Oh what a way to live out the Lordship of Jesus in this New Year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Merry Christmas and Holy Epiphany to you!! May God grant us the strength to follow through with the things to which He will call us. </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-23651054119555148312012-12-31T14:11:00.000-06:002012-12-31T14:11:32.105-06:00Christmas Season [4]Merry Christmas everyone!<br />
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A year later I find last <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-or-christmas-season-2.html" target="_blank">year's post</a> comforting and challenging. There is comfort in the reality that the Christmas Season is truly a game-changer (e.g., the beginning of the downfall of Satan's kingdom). Yet there is also challenge because the implications of the Christmas Season call for a response. Quite often the response(s) it calls for are challenging. <br />
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So, as this year winds down and another is about to begin, let me ask you a serious question. Are you more in love with Jesus today then you were a year ago? Got an answer? Good. Now let me ask another question. What is your evidence?<br />
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Hopefully you can answer the initial question with a "Yes," and then give a few examples to substantiate your answer.<br />
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Ready for another question or two? How would people around you know that you are more in love with Jesus today than a year ago? What would their response be if someone asked, "Hey 'Steve,' you are good friends with 'Bill,' right? Is he more in love with Jesus today then he was a year ago at this time?" What would his answer be? What would be his evidence?<br />
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If you are like me, there are some things that come to your mind which can cast doubt on an initial "Yes" answer. If this is the case for you, please do not dismiss the doubtful thoughts. In light of the Christmas Season, please do the following...<br />
<b>A) </b>Pray about the doubts. Is there validity to them? If so, there is no need to try and hide or deny them. This will certainly not be beneficial for anyone in the long run.<br />
<b>B) </b>View these areas, if valid, as room for growth in your walk with God.<br />
<b>C) </b>Confess these areas to God and seek help from others (i.e., confession both to God and community along with accountability). <br />
<b>D) </b>Leverage this "most wonderful time of the year" (i.e., the Christmas Season) to your advantage and seek to bring about change (i.e., sanctification) in these areas.<br />
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The Christ Event (Jesus' Birth, Life, Death, Burial, Resurrection, and Ascension) was a death blow to the kingdom of Satan. He is now bound, and while this does not eradicate him, Satan has been limited. For example, his ultimate weapon of death now has an ironic (for him) twist. Every time a follower of Jesus dies, no matter how the death comes about, they go to be in the presence of God. What a beautiful victory! A victory that no doubt enrages the father of lies (Jn8:44), accuser of the brothers (Rev12:10), and deceiver of the whole world (Rev12:9).<br />
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However, my focus is not on Satan in this post. No, my focus is on you (and me). In light of the Christmas Season, what godly changes are in store for you this year?<br />
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For some, step "c" above would be a huge step. Quite often confession and accountability are not done well in Christian circles. Yet do not let this deter you. Rather, be a catalyst to bring healthy confession and accountability into your community. Furthermore, do not view changes in light of the Christmas Season as daunting...view them as exciting. <br />
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The most free, safe, secure, at peace, and full of joy we will ever be is in the middle of the Father's will for our lives. Yet do not make the mistake of defining "free" and the remaining descriptors above in the way the world views them. Remember, there is a ruler of "this world" - and he is not Jesus (cf. 2Cor4:4). Yet because of the Christmas Season, his days are limited.<br />
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Rather than suggest a list of godly changes for this coming year in light of the Christmas Season, I will suggest one - for everyone. This change is necessary if you are going to have long-term growth in your walk with God. This past week I was given a great reminder while reading <i>Knowing God the Father Through the Old Testament </i>by Christopher J.H. Wright. He basically said revivals for the people of God in the Old Testament revolved around the written word of God. His examples were the reforms under Josiah (cf. 2Kgs22-23) and Ezra (cf. Neh8).<br />
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I think you can see the connection for us between the word of God for Israel (the written word) and the Word of God for us, the fulfilled Israel, in the person of Jesus. Interestingly, Jesus also had a high view of the written word of God.<br />
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In light of that, read the Bible this coming year. You may be surprised with the changes it will help to bring about in you. There are many reading plans to take a person through the entire Bible in a year. You can choose from a <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/chronological.html" target="_blank">chronological approach</a>, one that gets you through the <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/one-year-immersion-plan.html" target="_blank">OT once and NT three times</a>, and many others. I am going to follow a <a href="http://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-reading-plan/thematic.html" target="_blank">thematic approach</a> this year.<br />
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Oh yes, and in light of the Christmas Season, do not delay this godly change another moment. Start reading in your Bible today...putting it off until the "new year" is not wise. Why put off growing closer to God?<br />
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Also, if and when you miss a day, do not get down on yourself. Simply pick it up the next day. Remember, God is a God of grace...He certainly does not want you "down on yourself" for missing a day in His word. He would much rather have that pain of missing propel you to not missing another day instead of it leading to a prolonged period away from His word. <br />
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Oh yeah, last thing. I will encourage you to add a simple prayer in light of the Christmas Season for 2013; "God, give me a growing desire for Your word - to read and heed it." You will need strength that is not your own to read and apply God's word. The enemy, though defeated, is still strong and can deceive you. Yet the Spirit that lives within us is more powerful than him. Praise God for that.<br />
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In light of the Christmas Season, may you have a blessed new year in the eyes of the Lord!!!<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4560033881417294494.post-41743987744142000942012-12-28T07:37:00.000-06:002012-12-28T07:37:42.479-06:00Christmas Season [3]The New Year getting closer every day. In light of that, along with the more important Christmas Season, here is a post from <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-or-christmas-season-2.html" target="_blank">last year</a>. Once again, in a few days I hope to revisit this post with some more thoughts. Do I agree, where have my thoughts changed, how has it impacted me, etc.?<br />
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<b>Here is a post from 12/31/11 - Christmas or Christmas Season [2]</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The old year is nearly gone and the New Year is almost upon us. For many this conjures up thoughts of parties, a new beginning, bowl games, and resolutions. I must confess, for the past several years (10 or so) I have not been a fan of “New Year’s Resolutions”. However, in light of the Christmas Season I have started to think of them differently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">A reason I have had an aversion to New Year’s Resolutions is simple; why wait? E.g., in 2012 <a href="http://www.2011resolutions.org/top-10-new-years-resolutions-for-2011/" target="_blank">I am going to</a> <b>1) </b>lose weight, <b>2) </b>get organized, <b>3) </b>spend less & save more, <b>4) </b>quit smoking, <b>10) </b>spend more time with family, <a href="http://www.2011resolutions.org/top-10-new-years-resolutions-for-2011/" target="_blank">etc</a>. </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> I am not opposed to any of those things. Yet in the past I would think, “If they are so important…why wait? Why not start to change now…?” Have you ever been around someone going on a diet – or gone on one yourself? If so I am certain this is familiar, “My diet starts in three days (or next year)…so I have until then to eat whatever I want…” Add into this way of thinking any New Year’s resolution and it can be twisted into a free for all time period because after all, "in 2012 I am going to do better." However, after a week (estimates and statistics vary), three out of four New Year’s resolutions <a href="http://www.nlccoe.com/resources/radio-spots/the-last-days-the-millennium/" target="_blank">will have been broken</a> (click on the 1/6/10 radio spot in the new window). There are a variety of factors for why New Year’s Resolutions fail. One is the simple fact that change is difficult. Yet I wonder if a “last minute free for all” also sets us up for failure. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Be those things as they may be; why am I having a change of thinking toward New Year’s Resolutions? It is tied into the reality of the Christmas Season. When our focus shifts from a day (or a few family gatherings) to a celebration of the Incarnation, and its implications, the stage is set for everything to change. Indeed, it brings fresh meaning to “out with the old and in with the <b><u>new</u></b>” (cf. 2Cor5:17).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">All that makes a New Year exciting in the minds of many needs to be brought under the Lordship of Jesus – the Christ. After all, “New Year’s Day” is found within the Christmas Season. Yet what difference does this make? For starters, it ought to bring about a shift in some, if not all, of our resolutions. Why not resolve to get to know a neighbor down the street (even next door) and begin praying – earnestly – for them to submit their life to Jesus? Why not get accountability in this task of neighbor evangelism? Why not, in light of the Incarnation, seek to live an incarnational life among people who really need to know God’s love? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In other words, with a New Year nearly upon us, what changes for the sake of the Kingdom will you make? Take some time today and reflect on the past year in light of the Incarnation. What difference has it really made in me? What would others say? Have I loved those who are “unlovely” (e.g., a bad boss, an unfriendly neighbor, a social outcast, etc.) in the eyes of the world? Have I loved what is unlovely in the eyes of God? How has the reality of the Incarnation impacted how I have spent money? Etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yes, the Christmas Season changes everything – even the approach a follower of Jesus ought to take with a New Year upon us. Oh yes, and as far as a “free for all” prior to making a big change at the start of a New Year, this is still problematic. Yet if a change is to be lasting it must be empowered by the Holy Spirit of God…and this takes prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">So how about something like this? View <a href="http://heyblogwithbrent.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-or-christmas-1.html" target="_blank">Advent</a> as a time of fasting and prayer as we long for the return of Jesus. During this time I am certain the Holy Spirit will reveal some changes God desires in your life. Next, view the Christmas Season as a springboard to put these godly changes into practice. This sounds a lot better than the typical approach to the New Year and resolutions. And you know what? I bet a lot of the things in a typical “resolution list” will work themselves out as byproducts of growing closer to God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Merry Christmas – and let our hearts turn even more to having the New Year honor the One who owns all of time anyway. </span></div>
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