Occasionally, I will remember something that I've heard or read hundreds of times, usually something from God's Word, and it will strike a tone that resonates very loudly in my mind and heart. Usually, it is so simple that it almost seems silly. Usually, it's the simple message of the gospel... I am forgiven of all my sins.
As I read yesterday, "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered," (Psalm 32), I realized how all-over-the-place my heart has been, my hopes turning from this to that, almost every hour, looking for something better, forgetting how blessed I am!
No wonder Paul has to remind Timothy, his disciple who was already pastoring a church, "Remember Christ Jesus, risen from the dead..." I Timothy 2:8. I believe, based on this and all my experiences trying to get to know Jesus better, that in 50 years I will have the same conflict. A conscious decision needs to be made, and must be made, to remember Jesus, his life, his work, his death, his love, his power.
When I REALLY pause and ponder the facts, they are outrageously more interesting, stimulating, and motivating than anything else I tend to give my heart to. I was living in rebellion to God, spiritually dead, but he brought me to life and showed me the cross, the way by which God's son came to rescue helpless rebels like me. Embracing this faith, and embracing the King himself, Jesus, I am made right with him and with my Father; I receive, as a free gift, his record in place of mine. His record covers mine. I am covered, forever.
AND MORE! I become doubtful and wonder, sometimes unaware that I'm doing so, "Is this real? Does it really work like this? Was he really God in the flesh?" Instead of being ashamed that I would have such thoughts, I can acknowledge them, examine them, and truly put them to the test. Perhaps the most important and convincing test is that letter in the New Testament, First John, which was written to the early church "so that you may know that you have eternal life." How could they, and more importantly, how can I know I am covered? If my life has changed, and is changing still, perhaps at varying rates and degrees in different seasons of life, so that I am living and loving and serving and resembling more and more Jesus, then I have evidence that it is real. I am really covered, forever, accepted joyfully by my Father God. Nothing and no one is a greater blessing of mine.
Writings I hope will spark imagination
Friday, April 15, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Nobody knows...
Two things on my mind:
1) I still love my new job. I have a great project manager who is showing me the ropes and has made it his goal to see to it that I get my Professional Engineering license (PE). That's my goal, too! It is still shocking almost every day as I walk through the office, see the Rocky Mountains out the window, and realize God led me here and gave me work that I thoroughly enjoy.
2) I have been reading through proverbs for the past week, and I have been understanding how a lot of the principles taught in the book are illustrated in the life of Jesus. Yes, the whole Bible is about Jesus, as is all of life, but I still find myself surprised when I see this in new ways. One example, from Proverbs 14:10:
Couldn't this be a song lyric?! It's really true and connects with me in a very emotional way. I sometimes feel like nobody can understand how much I enjoy the things I love or how empty I feel in confusing, hard situations. However, if we look at Jesus' life, we realize that he demonstrates this most vividly. Truly, none of us could ever know the emotional pain of Jesus, the bitter taste of being punished for sins he had never committed by a perfect Father who had only ever loved him forever. On the flip side, who could know and feel the same real, intense joy Jesus has felt in his heart through his love of his Father and the joy of reconciling all the world back to relationship to him? The good news is this: God invites us into that joy, but it also comes with pain. I don't totally understand that, why there has to be pain, but it has to do with sin entering the world. Jesus entered into eternal joy and invites us into eternal joy, both through a bloody, stinking cross. That's interesting, huh? As weird as it sounds, I'm glad this is how he did it; I'm glad God uses pain to bring about joy and goodness. I feel that without it, sons and daughters of God would be way too much like Ned Flanders. Do you get what I mean?
1) I still love my new job. I have a great project manager who is showing me the ropes and has made it his goal to see to it that I get my Professional Engineering license (PE). That's my goal, too! It is still shocking almost every day as I walk through the office, see the Rocky Mountains out the window, and realize God led me here and gave me work that I thoroughly enjoy.
2) I have been reading through proverbs for the past week, and I have been understanding how a lot of the principles taught in the book are illustrated in the life of Jesus. Yes, the whole Bible is about Jesus, as is all of life, but I still find myself surprised when I see this in new ways. One example, from Proverbs 14:10:
The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
Couldn't this be a song lyric?! It's really true and connects with me in a very emotional way. I sometimes feel like nobody can understand how much I enjoy the things I love or how empty I feel in confusing, hard situations. However, if we look at Jesus' life, we realize that he demonstrates this most vividly. Truly, none of us could ever know the emotional pain of Jesus, the bitter taste of being punished for sins he had never committed by a perfect Father who had only ever loved him forever. On the flip side, who could know and feel the same real, intense joy Jesus has felt in his heart through his love of his Father and the joy of reconciling all the world back to relationship to him? The good news is this: God invites us into that joy, but it also comes with pain. I don't totally understand that, why there has to be pain, but it has to do with sin entering the world. Jesus entered into eternal joy and invites us into eternal joy, both through a bloody, stinking cross. That's interesting, huh? As weird as it sounds, I'm glad this is how he did it; I'm glad God uses pain to bring about joy and goodness. I feel that without it, sons and daughters of God would be way too much like Ned Flanders. Do you get what I mean?
Friday, February 18, 2011
What if All Roads Lead to God?
I think it is very good practice to evaluate our beliefs. Sometimes we may find that they have been imposed on us by our parents or culture, and upon further examination we realize that they are illogical and just plain wrong! That can be scary, and I can say that it has been for me. Knowing that makes me more cautious to confront people about their deepest held beliefs. It's not that I will not confront others, but I realize it must be done, as much as possible, patiently, with consideration, and with friendship.
I've been thinking specifically about an idea that is very widespread, not only where I live in Denver, but throughout the western world. You can call the root of it post-modernism. According to this ideology, no one is wrong. Truth is dependent upon whether someone believes an idea, not whether this idea matches up with reality. What is reality, anyway? No one can really know.
Out of this ideology comes the idea that all roads lead to God, that is, if you believe in a God. This is what I've been trying to think through and evaluate lately. I came to realize six years ago that I had personally and knowingly rebelled against God and sought life, happiness and personal autonomy completely apart from him. I then realized that the death of Jesus was a substitute for people just like me, and I began to not only acknowledge the facts of Jesus' death and resurrection, but to cling to him as my only hope of being reconciled or brought back to God. It was probably about a year later when I was first confronted with the idea, from a Muslim friend, that both of our beliefs could be right. I knew that it didn't feel true, but had never thought it through critically so that I could articulate any reasons why I disagreed. However, now I have, and I would just like to share three reasons why I disagree with my Muslim friend. These reasons are primarily grounded in the Bible, but I will not focus much here on why I trust the Bible. I will simply say that it is incredibly credible, historically speaking.
Firstly, Jesus said, as recorded in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Therefore, if Jesus claims exclusive access to God the Father, and Person B claims Jesus among multiple other ways to access the Father, either Jesus is wrong, or Person B is wrong. The law of non-contradiction states that both "A" and "not A" cannot be true simultaneously. Furthermore, if Jesus is wrong, then Person B is also wrong, because he claims that Jesus is right!
Secondly, Jesus, in the hours leading up to his crucifixion, prayed, "Father, if there is no other way for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done" (Matthew 26:42). The "cup" referred to here was written about hundreds of years prior by the prophets who called God's "cup of wrath" the justified anger that rose up in God because of man's rebellion. Jesus didn't deserve to "drink this cup," because he never rebelled against his Father but always perfectly and lovingly obeyed him. Nor did Jesus want to take on this responsibility if it weren't absolutely necessary. Jesus was not unlike us. Something in us longs for there to be some other way than Jesus dying on the cross to fix the world. Why? From our point of view, the exclusivity of the cross of Jesus means this: We are so broken, out-of-line with our created purpose and out-of-touch with God, that the only way we and God can be reunited is through the sacrifice of God's perfect son. The task is beyond us. There is no effective self-salvation plan. Spiritually, we are helpless because we are dead. That idea does not feel comfortable. Then, if we think about Jesus' point of view, he may have been thinking something like this at that crucial moment of prayer, "These people who I love are so helpless to save themselves that I am the only one who can do anything for them, yet to do so means absorbing in my own body all the anger of my Father, built up throughout all history as a result of sick, gross sins... murder, rape, idolatry, genocide, etc. All I have ever known from my Father has been love and acceptance throughout eternity. Now he will reject me personally, and it will hurt tremendously to fall into the hands of the Romans, but to fall into the hands of my Father as he crushes sin is too much. Could there be some other way? Isn't there any other way?" Jesus, God in the flesh, knew there was no other way, and he took the responsibility for our rebellion at "the place of the skull," Golgotha.
Thirdly, we all believe there is someone out there doing something we do not like. Even if we do intellectually buy into the ideology that morality is relative and all religions are equally valid, we do not feel that way, nor do we act that way. No one really feels like Hitler was right because he sincerely believed Jews were inferior. No one really feels like Jim Jones was right because he really thought God told him to kill hundreds with cyanide-laced kool-aid. We call these guys evil, or at least crazy or terribly wrong. We do not feel like they were in any way right, or that they found reconciliation with God through their actions.
In conclusion, and in answer to the question of this post, if all roads lead to God, then both Jesus and post-modernists are wrong, Jesus suffered unnecessarily, and Hitler and Jim Jones are in heaven. You don't want to believe that, nor should you.
I've been thinking specifically about an idea that is very widespread, not only where I live in Denver, but throughout the western world. You can call the root of it post-modernism. According to this ideology, no one is wrong. Truth is dependent upon whether someone believes an idea, not whether this idea matches up with reality. What is reality, anyway? No one can really know.
Out of this ideology comes the idea that all roads lead to God, that is, if you believe in a God. This is what I've been trying to think through and evaluate lately. I came to realize six years ago that I had personally and knowingly rebelled against God and sought life, happiness and personal autonomy completely apart from him. I then realized that the death of Jesus was a substitute for people just like me, and I began to not only acknowledge the facts of Jesus' death and resurrection, but to cling to him as my only hope of being reconciled or brought back to God. It was probably about a year later when I was first confronted with the idea, from a Muslim friend, that both of our beliefs could be right. I knew that it didn't feel true, but had never thought it through critically so that I could articulate any reasons why I disagreed. However, now I have, and I would just like to share three reasons why I disagree with my Muslim friend. These reasons are primarily grounded in the Bible, but I will not focus much here on why I trust the Bible. I will simply say that it is incredibly credible, historically speaking.
Firstly, Jesus said, as recorded in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Therefore, if Jesus claims exclusive access to God the Father, and Person B claims Jesus among multiple other ways to access the Father, either Jesus is wrong, or Person B is wrong. The law of non-contradiction states that both "A" and "not A" cannot be true simultaneously. Furthermore, if Jesus is wrong, then Person B is also wrong, because he claims that Jesus is right!
Secondly, Jesus, in the hours leading up to his crucifixion, prayed, "Father, if there is no other way for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, let your will be done" (Matthew 26:42). The "cup" referred to here was written about hundreds of years prior by the prophets who called God's "cup of wrath" the justified anger that rose up in God because of man's rebellion. Jesus didn't deserve to "drink this cup," because he never rebelled against his Father but always perfectly and lovingly obeyed him. Nor did Jesus want to take on this responsibility if it weren't absolutely necessary. Jesus was not unlike us. Something in us longs for there to be some other way than Jesus dying on the cross to fix the world. Why? From our point of view, the exclusivity of the cross of Jesus means this: We are so broken, out-of-line with our created purpose and out-of-touch with God, that the only way we and God can be reunited is through the sacrifice of God's perfect son. The task is beyond us. There is no effective self-salvation plan. Spiritually, we are helpless because we are dead. That idea does not feel comfortable. Then, if we think about Jesus' point of view, he may have been thinking something like this at that crucial moment of prayer, "These people who I love are so helpless to save themselves that I am the only one who can do anything for them, yet to do so means absorbing in my own body all the anger of my Father, built up throughout all history as a result of sick, gross sins... murder, rape, idolatry, genocide, etc. All I have ever known from my Father has been love and acceptance throughout eternity. Now he will reject me personally, and it will hurt tremendously to fall into the hands of the Romans, but to fall into the hands of my Father as he crushes sin is too much. Could there be some other way? Isn't there any other way?" Jesus, God in the flesh, knew there was no other way, and he took the responsibility for our rebellion at "the place of the skull," Golgotha.
Thirdly, we all believe there is someone out there doing something we do not like. Even if we do intellectually buy into the ideology that morality is relative and all religions are equally valid, we do not feel that way, nor do we act that way. No one really feels like Hitler was right because he sincerely believed Jews were inferior. No one really feels like Jim Jones was right because he really thought God told him to kill hundreds with cyanide-laced kool-aid. We call these guys evil, or at least crazy or terribly wrong. We do not feel like they were in any way right, or that they found reconciliation with God through their actions.
In conclusion, and in answer to the question of this post, if all roads lead to God, then both Jesus and post-modernists are wrong, Jesus suffered unnecessarily, and Hitler and Jim Jones are in heaven. You don't want to believe that, nor should you.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Worst Part about Getting Shot in the Buttocks
In case you haven't seen Forest Gump, the title of this post is an augmentation of my favorite of his quotes, "The best part about getting shot in the buttocks is THE ICE CREAM!" Any time I hear someone use the word "buttocks" I think of this quote. For example, read the following article from BBC News. WARNING: It's a serious article, though the Forest Gump quote is funny, at least to me.
Buttocks Injection Death
The main thing I wanted to think through is the question, "What does this say about our culture's world-view?" Obviously, something is skewed.
We all care about how we look, right? Is that bad? Well, I believe that depends on why we care. The book of Proverbs tells us that "as water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man" - Proverbs 27:19. That's written by Solomon, the wisest man ever. He was saying that the most important aspect of a man, even the essence of who a man is, is what goes on in his heart. Then, someone greater than Solomon, Jesus, came and also taught about the heart as a consistent theme, as recorded throughout the gospels. Jesus compares men and women to trees, where the "root" determines the "fruit," meaning the heart determines the actions (Matthew 12). Of course when we talk about the heart in this sense we're not referring to the blood-pumping organ itself but about what we treasure with our deepest desires and passions. "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be, also" - Luke 12:34. Therefore, the most important part of who we are as humans, from God's eternal perspective, is what we treasure with our deepest desires and passions, our heart.
This being said, the question remains. Is it right for me to care about how I look? Absolutely. However, it is not right to be consumed with how I look. That can become idolatry, where I actually start worshiping myself instead of God alone. The next logical question is, how do I know if I care too much about my image? Personally, I have realized a few ways of discerning when I care too much. If I would be embarrassed to admit how much time I spend looking in the mirror, how much money I spend on my clothes/hair/body, how self-conscious I feel to take my shirt off at the pool, whether proud or ashamed, how much time I spend at the gym trying to get ripped, etc... those are all good indicators that I care too much about my physical image. If you travel to foreign countries to undergo life-threatening cosmetic surgeries organized through the black market, you, also, may care too much about your physical appearance.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Jobs
I would simply like to share how my job search is going, in case anyone is curious, and because I get bored applying for jobs all day and need to take breaks.
So, I have had two small signs of hope with regards to engineering jobs lately. First, I was told I would be scheduled for an interview with a construction company this week! Second, I made it past round one for a civil engineering opening with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and I'm invited to come take a written exam.
In the meantime, I have been looking for part-time work. So far, the most exciting possibility I have applied for is a swimming instructor. I love swimming! I have taught swim lessons briefly in the past, and I would love to do it again for a season. We'll see what happens.
So, I have had two small signs of hope with regards to engineering jobs lately. First, I was told I would be scheduled for an interview with a construction company this week! Second, I made it past round one for a civil engineering opening with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and I'm invited to come take a written exam.
In the meantime, I have been looking for part-time work. So far, the most exciting possibility I have applied for is a swimming instructor. I love swimming! I have taught swim lessons briefly in the past, and I would love to do it again for a season. We'll see what happens.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
I don't want to be rich, but I do...
I really want to be an engineer. I graduated over a year ago now, had the opportunity to do a great internship, and am now looking for a full time engineering job. In the mean time, as I have been working a couple jobs outside of my field of study, I have been a bit anxious. It is hard to find an engineering job right now! I am seriously searching hard, as many of my other recent-graduate friends are, as well. I took some time today to evaluate the motives of my heart (which I must do often, because that is the most important part of who I am), and I realized that a significant reason why I want a "better" job is for the money. I love money and want lots of it! Yes, that's hard to admit, but true. Is it wrong? It depends on the reasons, and the reasons are diverse. I want comfort, security, and power. However, I also want to be generous. My motivations are mixed.
I wondered today if my desire to be rich, which I believe we all experience, is given to me by God. While I believe it is God-given, I know I don't always direct it appropriately. C.S. Lewis explains this well in The Weight of Glory:
Personally, I need to remember that having the comfort, security, and power that comes from having more money is not as good as the riches Jesus offers me. I want to be rich in the way Jesus was and is.... but, he was homeless! He was rich, however, in love. He was an investor, not so much in the market, but in relationships with people. He had twelve men who did everything with him. He had three of those twelve who he could be even more personal and vulnerable with. He was and is an awesome friend.
So, I now live in Denver, Colorado! I am part of a small new church, Soma Church. I live in a great community, West City Park. I have really cool neighbors and two room-mates who are both crazy about Jesus and total goof balls (with a serious side, too). I'm still looking hard for a job! Plus, I will have tons of daily choices to invest in my friends, to hang out, to help, to laugh, to be open, and to become filthy stinking rich the way Jesus wants me to be. I'll try to invest wisely.
I wondered today if my desire to be rich, which I believe we all experience, is given to me by God. While I believe it is God-given, I know I don't always direct it appropriately. C.S. Lewis explains this well in The Weight of Glory:
Indeed, if we consider the
unblushing promises of reward and the
staggering nature of the rewards promised
in the Gospels, it would seem that Our
Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but
too weak. We are half-hearted creatures,
fooling about with drink and sex and
ambition when infinite joy is offered us,
like an ignorant child who wants to go on
making mud pies in a slum because he
cannot imagine what is meant by the offer
of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily
pleased.
Personally, I need to remember that having the comfort, security, and power that comes from having more money is not as good as the riches Jesus offers me. I want to be rich in the way Jesus was and is.... but, he was homeless! He was rich, however, in love. He was an investor, not so much in the market, but in relationships with people. He had twelve men who did everything with him. He had three of those twelve who he could be even more personal and vulnerable with. He was and is an awesome friend.
So, I now live in Denver, Colorado! I am part of a small new church, Soma Church. I live in a great community, West City Park. I have really cool neighbors and two room-mates who are both crazy about Jesus and total goof balls (with a serious side, too). I'm still looking hard for a job! Plus, I will have tons of daily choices to invest in my friends, to hang out, to help, to laugh, to be open, and to become filthy stinking rich the way Jesus wants me to be. I'll try to invest wisely.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Job [Jobe]
Every time I read through the Old Testament book of Job, it is an interesting experience. Sometimes I find the long arguments of Job's friends boring. Sometimes I see great foreshadowing of Jesus and the cross. Sometimes I realize that the notes I wrote in my margins are so wrong! Also, I don't know of any other book in the Bible where I read a discourse and ask myself, "Wait, which parts of these arguments are true? Is that really how God works? I think he's wrong about that!" I believe we can and should ask ourselves those questions when we read Job's so-called friends' rebukes because God eventually rebukes them for how they act and speak. Consider this statement by the young acquaintance, Elihu...
I think it is important that when we read this we can say, "No, Elihu, you are wrong. Our sin does not simply affect other men. God is not merely a God far-off in the heavens. God is an emotional and personal being. He created emotion. He cares about the little things. When we choose sin over God, he takes it personally. God tells the heavens to be shocked and appalled at the putrid audacity of men, the fact that we actually choose stuff over God. God takes that personally and grieves over individual sin. That is what compelled him to send his son to the cross. If our sins did not affect him to the core, he would never give up his only son whom he loves more than anyone or anything else."
Does anyone else have any interesting observations in trying to understand this book? I think it shares a valuable message from God that can help us to know how to respond to God when we go through suffering, because Job surely suffered more than anyone else I know, bar Jesus. He was practically a human scab with no possessions, no friends, and almost no hope!
4 “I would like to reply to you
and to your friends with you.
5 Look up at the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.
6 If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him,
or what does he receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself,
and your righteousness only other people.
I think it is important that when we read this we can say, "No, Elihu, you are wrong. Our sin does not simply affect other men. God is not merely a God far-off in the heavens. God is an emotional and personal being. He created emotion. He cares about the little things. When we choose sin over God, he takes it personally. God tells the heavens to be shocked and appalled at the putrid audacity of men, the fact that we actually choose stuff over God. God takes that personally and grieves over individual sin. That is what compelled him to send his son to the cross. If our sins did not affect him to the core, he would never give up his only son whom he loves more than anyone or anything else."
Does anyone else have any interesting observations in trying to understand this book? I think it shares a valuable message from God that can help us to know how to respond to God when we go through suffering, because Job surely suffered more than anyone else I know, bar Jesus. He was practically a human scab with no possessions, no friends, and almost no hope!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Paul's Poems
Here's an easier and more enjoyable way to remember one of the most famous passages in the Bible that is also among the most famous sayings in the world.
This is quoted from the International Standard Version (ISV) translation of the New Testament. To learn more about the power of poetry, especially in the New Testament, I would check out this essay I just finished reading by Dr. David Alan Black. He is a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also consistently updates a blog I enjoy following.
I have personally experienced several great benefits from memorizing passages of scripture, both Old and New Testament. I think the approach taken by the ISV of translating passages widely accepted as poetry into English meter and rhyme should have been thought of long ago, but I am glad a group of people finally had the idea and carried it out. Many of Paul's teachings, as well as those of Jesus, were short, easy to remember poems. Learning them as such helps me to remember them, and it also adds a touch of artistic beauty to the teachings themselves that would otherwise be lost in translation. While I know that several of my friends reject thought-for-thought translations of the Bible in favor of more "literal" word-for-word translations, I reject this practice as ignorant, and I proudly and joyfully read and study from a wider variety of translations, knowing that at least some true meaning and intent is lost in a strict word-for-word translation from Greek into English.
If you do not agree with me on this, that's ok. I, however, will enjoy trying to memorize this version of I Corinthians 13, and I hope you will all believe, accept and cherish this fact:
To this world Christ Jesus came,
Sinful people to reclaim.
- I Timothy 1:15 (ISV)
Love is very patient,
Love is very kind,
Love is never envious
Or vaunted up with pride.
Nor is she conceited,
And never is she rude,
Never does she think of self,
Or ever get annoyed.
She never is resentful,
Is never glad with sin,
But always glad to side with truth,
When 'er the truth should win.
She bears up under everything,
Believes the best in all,
There is no limit to her hope,
And never will she fall.
This is quoted from the International Standard Version (ISV) translation of the New Testament. To learn more about the power of poetry, especially in the New Testament, I would check out this essay I just finished reading by Dr. David Alan Black. He is a professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and also consistently updates a blog I enjoy following.
I have personally experienced several great benefits from memorizing passages of scripture, both Old and New Testament. I think the approach taken by the ISV of translating passages widely accepted as poetry into English meter and rhyme should have been thought of long ago, but I am glad a group of people finally had the idea and carried it out. Many of Paul's teachings, as well as those of Jesus, were short, easy to remember poems. Learning them as such helps me to remember them, and it also adds a touch of artistic beauty to the teachings themselves that would otherwise be lost in translation. While I know that several of my friends reject thought-for-thought translations of the Bible in favor of more "literal" word-for-word translations, I reject this practice as ignorant, and I proudly and joyfully read and study from a wider variety of translations, knowing that at least some true meaning and intent is lost in a strict word-for-word translation from Greek into English.
If you do not agree with me on this, that's ok. I, however, will enjoy trying to memorize this version of I Corinthians 13, and I hope you will all believe, accept and cherish this fact:
To this world Christ Jesus came,
Sinful people to reclaim.
- I Timothy 1:15 (ISV)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Not What I Have Done
Three instances in the past twenty four hours have served to reinforce a theme in my mind and heart. Firstly, I had a brief, unexpected conversation last night with a new friend who is a member of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) church. He explained to me that God does not expect us to be perfect but to, essentially, do our best, and Jesus will take care of the rest. We discussed this more, but not as much as I wish we could have. What I take away from this conversation is the fact that what I believe about Jesus is radical. It is contrary to what we as humans want to believe, for whatever reason. We want to earn everything. My Mormon friend wants to earn everything. I want to earn everything. I want to say that I played some part in earning God's favor. I "merited" it. I get a merit badge. That, however, is not what God says is true.
"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:48
"None is righteous, no not one. No one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one."
Romans 3:10-12
"To the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due. But, to the one who does not work, but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."
Romans 4:4-5
(from pe.com)
Secondly, I had the privilege this morning of telling the story of Jesus' birth to the elementary students at my church and explaining why it is such good news. I told them that even Jesus' name means something! His name is translated from Hebrew and means "God saves." When I embrace a "works mindset," believing I somehow receive blessings from God because I have done enough good things, God no longer saves. God gives me my wage, my earnings, my merit badge. That doesn't even fit with his name! I don't know how to say "God pins badge" in Hebrew, but it's not "Jesus."
(from melrosetroop68.org)
Thirdly, during the praise music at church this morning, we read the following verse out loud together:
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'"
Jeremiah 23:5-6
This is a prophecy about Jesus, and it tells us of another well-suited name for my Savior, a name which I very seldom hear mentioned. "The LORD is our righteousness." This is the essence of the gospel, the good news of Jesus. Because of my utter failure to conform to God's perfect law, Jesus did it for me and offers me his record.
The point is this: In thinking about my standing before God, I often want to subtly mix in one teaspoon of trust in my own efforts and achievements. Instead, I will, and I must continuously decide to accept Jesus' offer, his penalty paid in my place, and his perfect record substituted for mine. From this kind of trust flows all my freedom to love God and run in the path of his commands. When I realize how much I've been rescued from, I am grateful to God and want to love others in the same way. When I deceive myself into believing that I earned what I have, I swell up with pride, wait for others to pat me on the back, and I sit on my pompous butt.
(from frealfitness.com)
"You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:48
"None is righteous, no not one. No one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one."
Romans 3:10-12
"To the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due. But, to the one who does not work, but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness."
Romans 4:4-5
(from pe.com)
Secondly, I had the privilege this morning of telling the story of Jesus' birth to the elementary students at my church and explaining why it is such good news. I told them that even Jesus' name means something! His name is translated from Hebrew and means "God saves." When I embrace a "works mindset," believing I somehow receive blessings from God because I have done enough good things, God no longer saves. God gives me my wage, my earnings, my merit badge. That doesn't even fit with his name! I don't know how to say "God pins badge" in Hebrew, but it's not "Jesus."
(from melrosetroop68.org)
Thirdly, during the praise music at church this morning, we read the following verse out loud together:
"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.'"
Jeremiah 23:5-6
This is a prophecy about Jesus, and it tells us of another well-suited name for my Savior, a name which I very seldom hear mentioned. "The LORD is our righteousness." This is the essence of the gospel, the good news of Jesus. Because of my utter failure to conform to God's perfect law, Jesus did it for me and offers me his record.
The point is this: In thinking about my standing before God, I often want to subtly mix in one teaspoon of trust in my own efforts and achievements. Instead, I will, and I must continuously decide to accept Jesus' offer, his penalty paid in my place, and his perfect record substituted for mine. From this kind of trust flows all my freedom to love God and run in the path of his commands. When I realize how much I've been rescued from, I am grateful to God and want to love others in the same way. When I deceive myself into believing that I earned what I have, I swell up with pride, wait for others to pat me on the back, and I sit on my pompous butt.
(from frealfitness.com)
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Denver, Baby
This week I finally made my final decision. I am going to Denver for two years! Six months ago I decided to move here to North Carolina, live with my brother, Andy, and learn more about the church plant he is helping to lead in Denver. Soma Church(which means body, as in the body of Christ)is going to be in Denver metro, and the vision of the church is to love God, love each other, and love the community. Doesn't that sound great? Well, the tricky thing is this... all kinds of churches have vision statements just like that. The way I have learned what Soma is really all about has been by living here with the team, praying with them, confessing sin with them, studying the Bible together, hanging out, and "doing life" together. They are all sinners! They know that and are quick and open to tell you that. However, they are genuine people whom I now trust, and I am happy, excited, and, let's be honest, a bit nervous to be heading out there with them in about a month.
Doing life together has been great, but it has not been roses and peaches the whole time.
(Picture from carolchambers.biz)
I have been learning about my idols, learning how to take responsibility for myself in a lot of new ways, learning to embrace confrontations, and learning how to cut grass! Yes, I have had the privilege of being on a landscaping crew with a few really cool guys who have patiently trained me in the art of lawn care. While it is a fun and rewarding job, I hope to be able to use my civil engineering degree eventually, and I have been putting out applications like crazy in Denver. Here is a small example of a confrontation I've faced: at one point, about three months ago, I literally said out-lout to God, "I don't want to go to Denver with Andy, I don't even like him!" We had just had an argument about me "stealing" his peanut butter, and I was pretty mad at the way he treated me. (Isn't that ridiculous?) However, and this is what I want to mark everything in my life, we applied the gospel, the good news of Jesus. God covers up all my offenses, yes, all of them, and he gives me the perfect record of Jesus the Messiah, instead. How in the world should I not forgive my brother? We admitted our selfishness, we followed Jesus in forgiving each other, and we agreed on a good peanut butter system to avoid confusion in the cupboard. That is a dumb story, I know. However, I pray that God will teach us, Soma Church, to apply the gospel to everything we do in Denver Colorado, specifically, in loving God, loving each other, and loving the city. Actually that is the vision statement of the church sending us, The Summit. Our vision is the same but we say Gospel, Community, Mission. (I guess we love the idea but want to appear original.) I want to see a gospel movement, because Jesus is worthy!
Doing life together has been great, but it has not been roses and peaches the whole time.
(Picture from carolchambers.biz)
I have been learning about my idols, learning how to take responsibility for myself in a lot of new ways, learning to embrace confrontations, and learning how to cut grass! Yes, I have had the privilege of being on a landscaping crew with a few really cool guys who have patiently trained me in the art of lawn care. While it is a fun and rewarding job, I hope to be able to use my civil engineering degree eventually, and I have been putting out applications like crazy in Denver. Here is a small example of a confrontation I've faced: at one point, about three months ago, I literally said out-lout to God, "I don't want to go to Denver with Andy, I don't even like him!" We had just had an argument about me "stealing" his peanut butter, and I was pretty mad at the way he treated me. (Isn't that ridiculous?) However, and this is what I want to mark everything in my life, we applied the gospel, the good news of Jesus. God covers up all my offenses, yes, all of them, and he gives me the perfect record of Jesus the Messiah, instead. How in the world should I not forgive my brother? We admitted our selfishness, we followed Jesus in forgiving each other, and we agreed on a good peanut butter system to avoid confusion in the cupboard. That is a dumb story, I know. However, I pray that God will teach us, Soma Church, to apply the gospel to everything we do in Denver Colorado, specifically, in loving God, loving each other, and loving the city. Actually that is the vision statement of the church sending us, The Summit. Our vision is the same but we say Gospel, Community, Mission. (I guess we love the idea but want to appear original.) I want to see a gospel movement, because Jesus is worthy!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Things We Couldn't Say
I just finished an amazing book called "Things We Couldn't Say," the story of Diet Eman, a Christian woman who lived in the Netherlands during WWII and worked with the underground resistance and helped protect Jews. It is a very graphic, genuine account of her life, including her thoughts, prayers and frustrations during all of the sufferings she went through while helping others. Diet's decisions bring up very interesting moral questions that I have never had to face, since she had to decide whether to obey what the Nazis were telling her to do, whether to lie to them, who she could help and who she could trust, etc. However, the message I found most important from her story was the truth of God's promise that gave Diet hope throughout all she went through, the words of Jesus that she carved, at one point, in Dutch into her prison wall, "Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." I believe there is a reason Jesus gave these as some of his last words, knowing that we would need to remember this promise especially through the sufferings that we are privileged to go through for his sake. I recommend this book for everybody.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Quran Burnings
I have had many thoughts and questions as a result of the planned burnings of the Quran in Florida this Saturday.
The biggest question in my mind is this: What does it mean that Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world, and how then do we who love him also fight the spiritual battle we are in, specifically against the lies of Islam that enslave people we love to an oppressive life and eternal death? (Yes, it's a mouthful of a question when I actually put it into writing!)
Then part of me wonders, what if this guy is right? That possibility scares me, and it's hard to explain why.
This is my only personal conclusion: I know what I believe about Islam. I think it is a powerful, manipulative force of falsehood and evil that is sweeping the entire world. Most significantly, it keeps people from knowing and loving the real Jesus. We are in a war for the glory of God and the souls of men and women, whether we ever realize it and fight or not. I want to fight this war whole-heartedly, just as Jesus did. He gave his life to conquer sin and death and to put Satan and all evil powers to shame. All I know to do is to pray and to proclaim the gospel in word and deed. The times of killing people and burning their property is over. God's Kingdom is not of this world, so we don't use weapons of this world. I feel like this Pastor in Florida is truly zealous but ignorant and misguided. I want to and ought to love and serve my individual Muslim friends, to seek more of them, understand their world view, love them, and be prepared to well-articulate to them the truth that Jesus is our only hope. I want to pray earnestly and ask God if I should be one of the people to go to a highly Muslim populated area to be a light for Jesus.
The biggest question in my mind is this: What does it mean that Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world, and how then do we who love him also fight the spiritual battle we are in, specifically against the lies of Islam that enslave people we love to an oppressive life and eternal death? (Yes, it's a mouthful of a question when I actually put it into writing!)
Then part of me wonders, what if this guy is right? That possibility scares me, and it's hard to explain why.
This is my only personal conclusion: I know what I believe about Islam. I think it is a powerful, manipulative force of falsehood and evil that is sweeping the entire world. Most significantly, it keeps people from knowing and loving the real Jesus. We are in a war for the glory of God and the souls of men and women, whether we ever realize it and fight or not. I want to fight this war whole-heartedly, just as Jesus did. He gave his life to conquer sin and death and to put Satan and all evil powers to shame. All I know to do is to pray and to proclaim the gospel in word and deed. The times of killing people and burning their property is over. God's Kingdom is not of this world, so we don't use weapons of this world. I feel like this Pastor in Florida is truly zealous but ignorant and misguided. I want to and ought to love and serve my individual Muslim friends, to seek more of them, understand their world view, love them, and be prepared to well-articulate to them the truth that Jesus is our only hope. I want to pray earnestly and ask God if I should be one of the people to go to a highly Muslim populated area to be a light for Jesus.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
New Rhymes
I would like to share some lines I enjoyed writing recently.
Crucified with Christ
Justified by faith
Incredibly surprised
To stand in Jesus' place
For he came down and stood
Where I deserve to stand
Nailed to a cross of wood
Blood dripping down his hands
Paying out in full
What I deserved to pay
Tragic, dark 'Place of the Skull'
Then on God's judgment day
Angels bow to you,
Kings and rulers, too,
And yet I see you do
Have so much care for who?
For anyone who will
Quite honestly confess
That he was hopeless 'til
He saw your righteousness
I see he offers us
Life so abundantly
It's metamorphosis,
He's really changing me
To follow in his steps
I'll daily reach for him.
Discovering the depths
Of mercy he has given.
I take his righteousness
And immortality,
and ne'er grow tired of this:
My God is pleased with me
And though my greatest deeds
Are just a crappy pile,
O, for a heart that beats
to see my Father smile
To know my Father well
And nothing more than this,
I trust no one can tell
Me of a greater bliss.
Crucified with Christ
Justified by faith
Incredibly surprised
To stand in Jesus' place
For he came down and stood
Where I deserve to stand
Nailed to a cross of wood
Blood dripping down his hands
Paying out in full
What I deserved to pay
Tragic, dark 'Place of the Skull'
Then on God's judgment day
Angels bow to you,
Kings and rulers, too,
And yet I see you do
Have so much care for who?
For anyone who will
Quite honestly confess
That he was hopeless 'til
He saw your righteousness
I see he offers us
Life so abundantly
It's metamorphosis,
He's really changing me
To follow in his steps
I'll daily reach for him.
Discovering the depths
Of mercy he has given.
I take his righteousness
And immortality,
and ne'er grow tired of this:
My God is pleased with me
And though my greatest deeds
Are just a crappy pile,
O, for a heart that beats
to see my Father smile
To know my Father well
And nothing more than this,
I trust no one can tell
Me of a greater bliss.
Monday, August 16, 2010
David Brainerd
I just started over reading The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. It is very interesting and encouraging to read and see into the heart of this man. He struggled so long and hard to try to earn God's love by being disciplined in prayer and bible study but found it so hard to meet God's Law's demands especially on our thoughts and affections. He found that every time he thought he was doing well, he was really acting out of pride and selfishness, not for God's glory. He finally found the sweet truth that we can never earn a right standing before God but must submit completely to the righteousness that Jesus offers. I love this quote from the time the gospel became so real to him...
"I wondered that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ."
He is one cool puritan.
"I wondered that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation, entirely by the righteousness of Christ."
He is one cool puritan.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Remember the Cross
I just read the first two chapters of Jeremiah tonight and realized how little my view of sin and, in turn, Jesus is. Throughout the overtone of the whole dialogue, it should be obvious to any reader that God is a personal, emotional being. He is sad, angry, confused and frustrated over the inconsistent and unfaithful hearts of his people. They have the ridiculous ideology to turn away from loving and delighting in God in order to pursue worthless things. That's the word God repeats again and again. Worthless. It even made them become worthless. The hard part is to realize that I have the same ridiculous tendencies, whether I always realize it or not. It's sickening how easily I can forget that God is a person, my Father, my best friend, and settle to be happy with all the stuff I can get from him. What am I talking about specifically? One thing, for example, is the realization I had a few days ago that the only time I tend to talk with God is when I have absolutely nothing else to do and no one else to talk with. I've been doing that instead of making it my joy and my business to remember God. Is that how to treat your best friend, the one you enjoy the most?
Maybe it's not that big of a deal when I do that, though, right? No, no, NO! That gets to the very heart of why Jesus came to die. He, the unique Son of God, always at the Father's right hand, his best friend, had to die, to be forsaken, in order to make my twisted heart clean. That is an enormous price to pay for something that is not that big of a deal.
Thank you God for that reminder from Jeremiah.
Maybe it's not that big of a deal when I do that, though, right? No, no, NO! That gets to the very heart of why Jesus came to die. He, the unique Son of God, always at the Father's right hand, his best friend, had to die, to be forsaken, in order to make my twisted heart clean. That is an enormous price to pay for something that is not that big of a deal.
Thank you God for that reminder from Jeremiah.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Home
I haven't posted anything new for a while, and that is mostly because I have been trying to work through some important personal decisions. I didn't mean to cut myself off from anyone but have been trying to discuss things that have been on my heart with just a few people.
I decided I needed to come back to the US, to Tennessee a bit early. After praying considerably, talking with mentors and eMi staff, and writing out all my thoughts and feelings, I decided to come home two months early. It was a tough decision but one in which I have an increasing amount of peace.
Before leaving, I was able to say goodbye to my closest Ugandan friends and all my eMi workmates. I even got to go fishing with Denis and Mathias! It was the first time I ever ate a fish that I caught myself. That was a great time to enjoy together with them before leaving.
I left Tuesday morning, May 18th, and arrived in London at 4pm. I had a one night layover and decided to venture into the city and see what I could. I walked around the city for a few hours and saw some of the famous places. London is a beautiful place! I slept in the hostel and left early Wednesday morning to catch my flight to Chicago, on which I was able to lie down across three seats and sleep like a baby while listening to country music.
I decided I needed to come back to the US, to Tennessee a bit early. After praying considerably, talking with mentors and eMi staff, and writing out all my thoughts and feelings, I decided to come home two months early. It was a tough decision but one in which I have an increasing amount of peace.
Before leaving, I was able to say goodbye to my closest Ugandan friends and all my eMi workmates. I even got to go fishing with Denis and Mathias! It was the first time I ever ate a fish that I caught myself. That was a great time to enjoy together with them before leaving.
I left Tuesday morning, May 18th, and arrived in London at 4pm. I had a one night layover and decided to venture into the city and see what I could. I walked around the city for a few hours and saw some of the famous places. London is a beautiful place! I slept in the hostel and left early Wednesday morning to catch my flight to Chicago, on which I was able to lie down across three seats and sleep like a baby while listening to country music.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Celebrations
This past weekend, our office manager, Semei, had a traditional Ugandan "introduction" and wedding. That made me forgive him for not paying the internet bill last week. Sometimes things can preoccupy your mind, and that's OK.
An introduction is a Buganda tradition. Buganda is the largest tribe in Uganda. In an introduction, the groom and his family is introduced to the bride, her family and friends. There are gifts, dancing, traditional dresses, shouting for joy, and plenty of other traditions.
The introduction was on Friday, and the wedding ceremony, much more similar to an American ceremony, was on Saturday, followed by a reception. I thought Semei was not enjoying himself throughout all the ceremonies. His bride was dancing and looked incredibly happy, but Semei was not dancing much at the introduction. But, then, at the wedding, he put on his dancing shoes! He was spinning Winnie (his new bride) and hopping all around the place. Later, he explained to me that you should usually be very serious at the introduction, since you are making a first impression on the parents.
I am glad the same was not true of the wedding reception, because it was a joy for me to see this new family's fresh joy of a new life together. Dancing must be one of the most clear and natural expressions of joy God gave us. I look forward so much to the joyful day when Cristal and I will be dancing for joy to celebrate our new life together! Even more, how about the dancing when we celebrate the marriage supper of Jesus? No one is going to have to tell me to dance, they just might have to ask me to stop!
On Sunday, I was lured away on a boda-boda (motorcycle) ride to a surprise half-birthday party. I had no idea what was coming or that it was even my half birthday! It was a fun celebration, as well, and we ate Indian food with my favorite dessert... hot-fudge brownie Sundae. Notice the long-horn cattle in the background of the restaurant pictures. Those cows are beautiful, and I see them as they're herded up and down the streets every day.
I finished the book I was reading, "4 Views on Hell," and am looking forward to talking with Brad, our eMi director who recommended it to me, all about my thoughts. It seems to me that the main problem with Clark Pinnock's annihilation view, which Brad agrees with, is that it is held up by a theology which places man and man's rights at the center of the universe. Is God not at the center of everything? Does He really care more about man than he does about himself?
Today I am starting to read "The Life and Diary of David Brainerd," edited by Jonathan Edwards. Has anyone ever read that one?
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter At the Village
I had a great weekend in Mathias' village, and it was a very special Easter, indeed. I have been privileged to be able to help Mathias with school fees for a few years, since God has blessed me with more than I need, and it was amazing to see how this was an answer to diligent prayers of his parents! His mom and dad were so incredibly grateful! They also fed me tons of food. I wish I would have taken a picture of the food, but I forgot. We ate bowls full of food, most of which came directly from Mathias' dad's plantation. On the plantation, he grows bananas, sugar cane, beans, papaya, matoke (un-sweet bananas that are used like potatoes), and jack fruit. Jack fruit are the huge fruits you can see Mathias climbing up the tree to get.
In the pictures, you can see the church that Mathias' dad pastors. I am sitting next to him on the bench, and a guest speaker is speaking about how to prepare to live in a spiritual battle. It was a great church service, and afterward I met Mathias' grandfather. He was a happy old man, but we were not able to talk very much.
Mathias and I had fun exploring the plantation and eating sugar cane. We climbed a big hill, and we both slipped several times on the steep slope. The gorgeous view was worth it. I also saw what looked like a cactus/tree and some very beautiful wild flowers, unlike any I have seen in Tennessee.
The trip was great, and my only complaint is that I now have a bruise on my rear end from the long, bumpy ride home!
Friday, April 2, 2010
"Four Views on Hell"
Being here for two and a half months, and growing closer to my fellow interns as we eat together most nights, study the Bible together, pray together, work together, and do all those little life things together (cooking, dishes, walking, etc), we have had conversations about almost everything under the sun. Sometimes we laugh and talk about movies while sometimes we yell and debate hard questions about God. I love it. I am so glad we don't have a TV here! I have noticed that I have much different views about God then most of the other guys. This has made our conversations all the more interesting and challenging. Asking ourselves why we believe as we do reveals some interesting things.
One of the things Brad, our eMi Uganda director, and I have talked about several times is hell. What is it? How does our view of it reflect our view of God? Is it literal? Is it figurative? Is it eternal?
It is ironic that I had just finished John Piper's "Let the Nations be Glad," in which Piper both explains in detail why the Bible supports a conscious eternal suffering view of hell and critiques several other theologians' views, mostly the annihilation view of hell. It took me a moment to remember why the name Clark Pinnock sounded so familiar when Brad told me he agrees with his view of hell. Then it hit me... Pinnock is the author whose particular works Piper attacked most adamantly in his book! I mostly agreed with everything Piper wrote about hell being eternal conscious suffering, as I tend to agree with almost everything I have read of Piper's, so far. However, I sometimes reluctantly will try to keep an open mind, and I have decided to read the book which presents Pinnock's and three others' views on hell. It is very interesting. So far, my favorite part is after the conclusion of each author's view, where the other three authors offer their critiques. I had plenty of time to read it slowly today, as it was a public holiday (Good Friday), and I did not work but went to a local garden/health club to read and spend time alone with God. Pinnock's view is the final one, and the only one I have not read yet. I am sure it will make me angry, and I think that is OK.
For me, the most interesting thing about the whole concept of hell is how it helps us to know God. Many people have problems with the traditional/orthodox view of hell and even the metaphorical view, if it is still believed to be eternal conscious suffering. It can seem to make God look unjust. What about the bible verse we all know so well, "God is love"? Could a loving God send someone to suffer forever? I ask myself, "is that all God is? Love? Doesn't God also hate sin? Does he hate sinners, too? Can he love and hate someone at the same time?" As much as the whole idea of lost souls being tormented in flames bothers me, literal or symbolic, I acknowledge the fact that God is who He is. He does what he wants. He is God, and he is good, whatever he does, and yes, he is love.
I will probably discuss more of what I learn about God through studying hell soon. Have you wrestled with the reality of hell? Was it worthwhile? What did you learn?
One of the things Brad, our eMi Uganda director, and I have talked about several times is hell. What is it? How does our view of it reflect our view of God? Is it literal? Is it figurative? Is it eternal?
It is ironic that I had just finished John Piper's "Let the Nations be Glad," in which Piper both explains in detail why the Bible supports a conscious eternal suffering view of hell and critiques several other theologians' views, mostly the annihilation view of hell. It took me a moment to remember why the name Clark Pinnock sounded so familiar when Brad told me he agrees with his view of hell. Then it hit me... Pinnock is the author whose particular works Piper attacked most adamantly in his book! I mostly agreed with everything Piper wrote about hell being eternal conscious suffering, as I tend to agree with almost everything I have read of Piper's, so far. However, I sometimes reluctantly will try to keep an open mind, and I have decided to read the book which presents Pinnock's and three others' views on hell. It is very interesting. So far, my favorite part is after the conclusion of each author's view, where the other three authors offer their critiques. I had plenty of time to read it slowly today, as it was a public holiday (Good Friday), and I did not work but went to a local garden/health club to read and spend time alone with God. Pinnock's view is the final one, and the only one I have not read yet. I am sure it will make me angry, and I think that is OK.
For me, the most interesting thing about the whole concept of hell is how it helps us to know God. Many people have problems with the traditional/orthodox view of hell and even the metaphorical view, if it is still believed to be eternal conscious suffering. It can seem to make God look unjust. What about the bible verse we all know so well, "God is love"? Could a loving God send someone to suffer forever? I ask myself, "is that all God is? Love? Doesn't God also hate sin? Does he hate sinners, too? Can he love and hate someone at the same time?" As much as the whole idea of lost souls being tormented in flames bothers me, literal or symbolic, I acknowledge the fact that God is who He is. He does what he wants. He is God, and he is good, whatever he does, and yes, he is love.
I will probably discuss more of what I learn about God through studying hell soon. Have you wrestled with the reality of hell? Was it worthwhile? What did you learn?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Smiles
I was feeling sad and discouraged last weekend. I have been spending my Saturday Mornings working with "Front Line," a ministry to street kids from my church here, Calvary Chapel. I have never met people like these street kids. Calvary seems to be doing a good job seeking them out, inviting them into the church, loving them, playing games with them, feeding them, teaching them about Jesus, and disciplining them. Most of them don't have parents, a home, consistent meals, or someone to love them. Most of the kids don't speak much English, either.
Saturday was "sports day," which occurs on the last Saturday of each month. Sports day is really fun for the kids and for me. I get to be a human jungle-gym. They get to run around and be crazy. I was sad and discouraged because I felt helpless. I want to be able to give them what they need. Frankly, it just doesn't seem right to me. In America, my friends, family and I have all we need and more. I never even wondered if I might not have food for even one meal. I never imagined my parents leaving me. It's their "job" to love me, that's what they do! I have been so secure and well-provided for. I am so blessed! It's a surprising dose of reality to see "these people" that I've heard about for years but have been so disconnected from and even doubted their existence. "Surely no one REALLY goes hungry or homeless, at least not for a long time, right? I mean, aren't there ministries and organizations and government things to help them?" Then I walk to the football field with a boy and ask him about his family. "I don't have a family. I don't have parents. I used to go to school. I want to go back." So they do exist. The reason I have been sad and discouraged is because I want them to have what I have. Of course I want them to have Christ, to know Him in a personal saving way, in a life-changing, hope-giving way, just like I know Him. I also want them to have food, education, and a home! But I can't communicate with most of them without a translator, and I can't provide them with three meals a day, and I can't put them through school. I wonder to myself if it is worthwhile to go spend time with them. Is it a real need for them to have a friend like me if I can't explain the gospel to them in their language, if I don't give them money, and if I don't give them education? Maybe? Maybe it helps to have someone to sit with them while they eat, hold their hand while they walk, spin them around when they're on my back until they get really dizzy, let them play with my leg hairs and see the wonder in their eyes when they pull them out and look at them. I don't know. I know it makes them smile for a while. I want them to have joy, real joy, the kind that only comes from having a real close relationship with Jesus. I hope I can give that to them somehow! Everyone is made for that.
I noticed that when I have been walking around town, whenever I greet someone in Luganda, "Oli Otya, Ssebo? (How are you, sir)" they usually reply with a huge grin and say, "Jendi, ssebo!" (Fine, sir). I know that makes a very small difference, somehow. It makes them happy to see a muzungu (white person) speaking in Luganda to them. More than that, it makes me happy to know I make someone else happy, even in such a small way.
In my conversations with God, I realized something simple, yet extremely exciting. I make God smile. He looks at me and is happy. He delights in me. He couldn't be happier or prouder. He is refreshed in spending time with me, even laughing sometimes, I really believe, at my silliness. Is it because I am great? Oh, no. I am covered, clothed with Christ. The Father delights in his one-and-only Son. I am in Christ. Father and Son enjoy eternal fellowship... or to put it in my language, they love hanging out together. It is always good, right, and joyous being together. That is how it is with us, with God and me. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow. However, even in the pain, there can still be joy. God smiles at me. That is amazing, and all the more when I see how ungrateful and undeserving I really am. So, I still have a ton of questions and unanswered prayers, but I can smile, and I do.
Saturday was "sports day," which occurs on the last Saturday of each month. Sports day is really fun for the kids and for me. I get to be a human jungle-gym. They get to run around and be crazy. I was sad and discouraged because I felt helpless. I want to be able to give them what they need. Frankly, it just doesn't seem right to me. In America, my friends, family and I have all we need and more. I never even wondered if I might not have food for even one meal. I never imagined my parents leaving me. It's their "job" to love me, that's what they do! I have been so secure and well-provided for. I am so blessed! It's a surprising dose of reality to see "these people" that I've heard about for years but have been so disconnected from and even doubted their existence. "Surely no one REALLY goes hungry or homeless, at least not for a long time, right? I mean, aren't there ministries and organizations and government things to help them?" Then I walk to the football field with a boy and ask him about his family. "I don't have a family. I don't have parents. I used to go to school. I want to go back." So they do exist. The reason I have been sad and discouraged is because I want them to have what I have. Of course I want them to have Christ, to know Him in a personal saving way, in a life-changing, hope-giving way, just like I know Him. I also want them to have food, education, and a home! But I can't communicate with most of them without a translator, and I can't provide them with three meals a day, and I can't put them through school. I wonder to myself if it is worthwhile to go spend time with them. Is it a real need for them to have a friend like me if I can't explain the gospel to them in their language, if I don't give them money, and if I don't give them education? Maybe? Maybe it helps to have someone to sit with them while they eat, hold their hand while they walk, spin them around when they're on my back until they get really dizzy, let them play with my leg hairs and see the wonder in their eyes when they pull them out and look at them. I don't know. I know it makes them smile for a while. I want them to have joy, real joy, the kind that only comes from having a real close relationship with Jesus. I hope I can give that to them somehow! Everyone is made for that.
I noticed that when I have been walking around town, whenever I greet someone in Luganda, "Oli Otya, Ssebo? (How are you, sir)" they usually reply with a huge grin and say, "Jendi, ssebo!" (Fine, sir). I know that makes a very small difference, somehow. It makes them happy to see a muzungu (white person) speaking in Luganda to them. More than that, it makes me happy to know I make someone else happy, even in such a small way.
In my conversations with God, I realized something simple, yet extremely exciting. I make God smile. He looks at me and is happy. He delights in me. He couldn't be happier or prouder. He is refreshed in spending time with me, even laughing sometimes, I really believe, at my silliness. Is it because I am great? Oh, no. I am covered, clothed with Christ. The Father delights in his one-and-only Son. I am in Christ. Father and Son enjoy eternal fellowship... or to put it in my language, they love hanging out together. It is always good, right, and joyous being together. That is how it is with us, with God and me. Sometimes there is pain and sorrow. However, even in the pain, there can still be joy. God smiles at me. That is amazing, and all the more when I see how ungrateful and undeserving I really am. So, I still have a ton of questions and unanswered prayers, but I can smile, and I do.
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