"Nothing that has yet to die will resurrect."
~Christen Ringle
I took this line from something Christen had written. The depth of the truth that is conveyed through this is more than I can attempt to communicate in a simple blog post. However, I would like to take a moment to consider its implications, however incomplete the thoughts may be. Feel free to comment here or on Facebook to continue the conversation on this:
In her writing, this phrase was in the context of dying to self, a theme on which she wrote often. She had an uncanny sense of her own innate selfishness. This, ironically (or perhaps fittingly), is what made her one of the humblest people I have ever known. Follow my logic: Selfish people don't know they're selfish. They don't have that kind of insight to themselves. There are some selfish people who will admit they, in fact, are selfish, but they are simply using the words without recognizing what they mean. The ability to recognize selfishness in yourself require that you take a step outside of yourself. That is impossible to do without at least some measure of humility, and humility only comes from God.
Therefore, if you are very aware of your own selfish impulses: 1) You are more likely to fight those impulses and do the selfless rather than selfish thing and 2) You repent before God of your selfish motives and desires, which brings about true humility. The fact that Christen so often wrote on and repented of her selfish desires and motives reveals the deep humility she consistently pursued, which was really just the fruit of her endlessly seeking to know Jesus better.
Looking at the quote again, I can see that it coincides well with Scripture. Jesus bids us to come and die - die to ourselves, die to our personal ambitions, die to our pride, and yes, sometimes actually physically die for the cause of the gospel. Yet her quote also ends with great hope. Though there is death, there is also resurrection. As I was preparing to give a talk on suffering recently, I saw how many verses in the New Testament directly connect suffering alongside Christ with being later glorified with Him. It shows the real purpose of suffering as well as dying to self (the 'cost' of discipleship) - displaying Christ as our only true treasure and looking to glory for the fulfillment of all His promises to us as His children.
I draw all these conclusions, write all these words, and yet she could communicate it all in an 8-word sentence. You know who else communicated a powerful message with 8 words? Jonah.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
My First Five
I don't think it's a secret: I love books. I mean, I really love them. Actual books, not ebooks. I like the covers, the thickness or thinness of the pages, the font types, the jackets, all of it. A book is an experience.
I take notes in my books. I write them in the margins with a finely leaded pencil, and I do a lot of writing. I write when I agree with something an author has stated. I really write when I disagree. Some find this troubling. Some would say, "What happens when you re-read the book? Doesn't your note predispose you to rethink the same thoughts?" I suppose those are valid questions. But those notes also help me remember what is important in each book I read, allowing me to flip through quickly and recapture the key points.
I want to pass on this love. Over the course of the coming weeks and months, I will begin to post resources I have found particularly valuable. They will be lists based on topic (e.g. theology, culture, apologetics, prayer), and I will relieve myself of the pressure of putting them into an 'order', like a top 10 list or something. Rather, I will simply list them with a brief thought on each.
With that, my first list is what I call my 'First Five'. Note: this is not my 'top five'. These are the first books I read that really kicked off my deeper reading into extra-biblical texts (books of a Christian nature that aren't the Bible itself):
The Screwtape Letters - by C.S. Lewis
- More of a story, it tells in fictional narrative how Satan and his demons set about strategically subverting the gospel
Desiring God - by John Piper
- This is my +1 book, as in 'If I could have the Bible +1 other book'. I believe the chapters on prayer, worship, and suffering should be mandatory reading for any believer.
Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
- This is a 'how do I make sense of my faith' book, also called apologetics. Lewis uses reason and logic to draw out truths regarding Christianity. Arguments like 'Lunatic, Liar, or Lord' are introduced here. Timeless.
The Pursuit of God - A.W. Tozer
- A spiritual awakening book. It will do to your heart what Lewis's Mere Christianity will do to your mind. It is a small book, but Tozer's sentences weigh 800 pounds.
Orthodoxy - G.K. Chesterton
- As you can see, I like the Brits. While I don't necessarily agree with all of Chesterton's conclusions (nor Lewis's for that matter), the way that he takes 2-3 pages to set up 1 bombshell of a paragraph actually made me publicly laugh out loud (like, on the train...several times) because of their sheer brilliance.
There you have it. My First Five. Enjoy!
Monday, February 27, 2012
Jesus Loves the Church
I have had a song on my heart (and subsequently in my head) for the past four days. I can't get it out, and so I am going to share the lyrics with you with the intent being that we would see better how much Jesus loves His bride, the Church. This song comes from Derek Webb's album She Must and Shall Go Free, and album all about the Church. The song is titled 'Lover'. It is a song taken from Christ's perspective as He sings to the Church. The Bible states that God 'sings songs of deliverance' over us. I would not presume to know exactly what or how He sings, but I think the heart of that verse is well communicated in the lyrics to this song. Enjoy, and if you like, buy his album. It's worth it.
Lover
Like a man comes to an alter, I came into this town
With the world upon my shoulders and promises passed down.
And I went into the water and my father, He was pleased.
I built it and I’ll tear it down so you will be set free.
But I found thieves and salesmen living in my Father’s house.
I know how they got in here, and I know how to get ‘em out.
I’m turning this place over from floor to balcony,
And then just like these doves and sheep you will be set free.
I’ve always been a lover from before I drew a breath;
some things i loved easy and some I loved to death.
Because love’s no politician - it listens carefully.
Of those who come I can’t lose one, so you will be set free.
But go on and take my picture, go on and make me up.
I’ll still be your defender, you’ll be my missing son.
And I’ll send out an army just to bring you back to me.
Because regardless of your brother’s lies you will be set free.
I am my beloved's, and my beloved’s mine.
So you bring all your history, and I’ll bring the bread and wine.
And we’ll have us a party where all the drinks are on me.
Then as surely as the rising sun you will be set free.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Carrying the Torch
I ran across this unfinished draft from Christen's blog the other day:
I am on the quest to enjoy each moment in my day. That can be a challenge some days, as our sweet children can be a handful. Their attitudes reflect an ugly sin nature that I pretend like I'm surprised to see. I know that they are so less sinful than anyone else. It's just a pain to deal with. You see, we are not interested in behavioral adjustments. We pray that the Lord would overshadow them and give them a new nature. Oh Lord, save our kids!
I want to highlight a few phrases that reveal what our hearts were/are as parents. Since I am now the only parent, I carry this heart for the both of us.
"Their attitudes reflect an ugly sin nature that I pretend like I'm surprised to see."
It's true, I admit it. My kids sin. It's a shocker, I know, but let's all try to hold it together. All rhetoric aside, too often as parents we are surprised when our kids reveal the nature with which they were born. When they lie or shove or don't share, we respond with amazement, especially if other parents are around. We act as though it's the first time anything of the sort has ever happened. The key word of Christen's is 'pretend'. We aren't actually surprised when our kids sin. We fake it either because we have allowed naivety to take over our parenting or because we have fear of man issues and don't want the disapproving glances from people. Sin is sin, and we should deal with it in our kids in the same way God deals with us - with grace and truth. Love and discipline. But not surprise and reaction. Let's stop pretending and start teaching (I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone reading!).
"You see, we're not interested in behavioral adjustments."
Two things need to be pointed out here. First, making behavioral adjustments without an element of grace and a presentation of the gospel breeds legalism. Sin requires repentance, repentance garners forgiveness, forgiveness necessitates restoration of relationship. If we correct without a gospel-oriented parenting style, we teach our children to do 'this and that' in order to remain in good favor. That's legalism and religious observance rather than relational communion. In so doing, our children will learn to relate to God in exactly the same way.
Second, notice that Christen wrote this on her own, but she used the word 'we' in reference to how we want to parent our children. To the gentlemen reading this: You are responsible for how your children are parented, not just your wife. Christen was the one with the kids for the vast majority of the time they were awake. But she wasn't alone in doing it. We spoke often about how we were going to discipline the kids, structure their days, educate them, devote them to the Lord, and on and on. She primarily executed these plans, but I was involved from top to bottom. Could I have done better or more? I am certain that's true. Yet her words here indicate that we operated as a unit, not individuals. Fellas, don't omit yourselves from these processes. It's amazing.
"We pray the Lord would...give them a new nature."
Salvation and discipleship is the primary reason the Lord gave us kids. He has rewarded us, and now me, with this responsibility for the sole purpose of raising them to be disciples of Christ, dedicated to His service, vessels open to His purposes, enjoying Him forever as their source of life. I pray to this end with them every night. I read them the Bible for this reason. I answer their questions, however 'silly', because I want them to know that their father is available to answer their questions and to therefore know tangibly that their Heavenly Father is available for them. New hearts and renewed minds. So be it, Lord.
I am on the quest to enjoy each moment in my day. That can be a challenge some days, as our sweet children can be a handful. Their attitudes reflect an ugly sin nature that I pretend like I'm surprised to see. I know that they are so less sinful than anyone else. It's just a pain to deal with. You see, we are not interested in behavioral adjustments. We pray that the Lord would overshadow them and give them a new nature. Oh Lord, save our kids!
I want to highlight a few phrases that reveal what our hearts were/are as parents. Since I am now the only parent, I carry this heart for the both of us.
"Their attitudes reflect an ugly sin nature that I pretend like I'm surprised to see."
It's true, I admit it. My kids sin. It's a shocker, I know, but let's all try to hold it together. All rhetoric aside, too often as parents we are surprised when our kids reveal the nature with which they were born. When they lie or shove or don't share, we respond with amazement, especially if other parents are around. We act as though it's the first time anything of the sort has ever happened. The key word of Christen's is 'pretend'. We aren't actually surprised when our kids sin. We fake it either because we have allowed naivety to take over our parenting or because we have fear of man issues and don't want the disapproving glances from people. Sin is sin, and we should deal with it in our kids in the same way God deals with us - with grace and truth. Love and discipline. But not surprise and reaction. Let's stop pretending and start teaching (I'm preaching to myself as much as anyone reading!).
"You see, we're not interested in behavioral adjustments."
Two things need to be pointed out here. First, making behavioral adjustments without an element of grace and a presentation of the gospel breeds legalism. Sin requires repentance, repentance garners forgiveness, forgiveness necessitates restoration of relationship. If we correct without a gospel-oriented parenting style, we teach our children to do 'this and that' in order to remain in good favor. That's legalism and religious observance rather than relational communion. In so doing, our children will learn to relate to God in exactly the same way.
Second, notice that Christen wrote this on her own, but she used the word 'we' in reference to how we want to parent our children. To the gentlemen reading this: You are responsible for how your children are parented, not just your wife. Christen was the one with the kids for the vast majority of the time they were awake. But she wasn't alone in doing it. We spoke often about how we were going to discipline the kids, structure their days, educate them, devote them to the Lord, and on and on. She primarily executed these plans, but I was involved from top to bottom. Could I have done better or more? I am certain that's true. Yet her words here indicate that we operated as a unit, not individuals. Fellas, don't omit yourselves from these processes. It's amazing.
"We pray the Lord would...give them a new nature."
Salvation and discipleship is the primary reason the Lord gave us kids. He has rewarded us, and now me, with this responsibility for the sole purpose of raising them to be disciples of Christ, dedicated to His service, vessels open to His purposes, enjoying Him forever as their source of life. I pray to this end with them every night. I read them the Bible for this reason. I answer their questions, however 'silly', because I want them to know that their father is available to answer their questions and to therefore know tangibly that their Heavenly Father is available for them. New hearts and renewed minds. So be it, Lord.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
God Delights in Giving Us More Than We can Handle
I have bad news and good news:
The bad news is that there is no verse in the Bible which states, "God will not give you more than you can handle."
The good news is that what the Bible actually says is far better.
Allow me to explain:
What most people quote as "God will not give you more than you can handle" is actually an adaptation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
That's a big difference, and I hope you caught it. The adapted version makes you feel like God knows exactly who you are and will only 'put on' you what He knows you can take. The actual verse states that this is in reference to temptation and that He will provide another route to take so that you can endure the temptation. Think of Jesus in the desert. Satan comes to tempt Him with food and power and riches beyond anything the world had to offer. Jesus doesn't skip the temptation. He faces it, and with the Word He rebukes His enemy who subsequently leaves. God provides His Word to combat the temptations of the enemy so that when those temptations come you can endure them without succumbing to them. Read that sentence again.
Here is how this verse should be used. It is meant to show that God is not the tempter, though He will allow for temptation for the sake of refining the faith of His children. It is part of God's sanctifying work in our lives that we face temptations and learn, by His grace, to overcome them. Here are some supporting verses that I would commend to you for your edification on this subject:
Deuteronomy 7:9 - this verse is alluded to by Paul in the passage to the Corinthians (note: "faithful God")
Mark 1: 12-13 - it was the Holy Spirit that 'drove' Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted (note: the Holy Spirit drove but Satan tempted)
Hebrews 4:14-16 - this is essentially the gospel as it relates to temptation
James 1:13 - simple enough: "Let no one say..., 'I am being tempted by God.'"
1 John 2:16 - worldly things are worldly, not godly and not from God
Perhaps you're thinking, "But I like the interpretation where God doesn't give us more than we can handle." First, too bad, that's not what it says. Second, what the Bible says is even better.
God regularly gives us more than we can handle. Why? Because He wants us to rely on Him for everything (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-34). He desires that we would allow His grace to be the most obvious characteristic marking our lives (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). A cursory glance at the Davidic Psalms would be enough to reveal how true this is. Honestly, how often did David write about being surrounded by his enemies and how only the Lord could deliver him? If you want a stirring example of this and of the lengths to which God will go to rescue one of His children in danger, read Psalm 18. God delights in giving us more than we can handle because He delights in our recognition of our need for Him. And then, when He brings us through those overwhelming times, He allows us to experience an ounce of His delight when we are able to comfort someone going through a similar situation (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). This is a far better reality than one wherein God makes sure to hold back the hard stuff because 'we can't handle it', thereby turning us into spoiled children who have lost all concept of gratitude and humility.
In the words of Monty Python, 'and now for something completely different':
For those who have been paying attention to my posts about biblical interpretation, you may have caught a theme. Just in case, I will elucidate it. Context is critical to understanding Scripture. It is possible to make any single verse of the Bible say whatever you want it to say. When you take into account the context, however, this is not possible. In fact, it is often ridiculous. My encouragement is this: read the Bible, all of it, and don't settle for anything cheaper than the Truth.
For those who have really been paying attention, you may have caught a second theme. The verses that get taken out of context are often placed into a context which makes it sound like our lives as Christians should be more comfortable. Think about it - 'my yoke is easy' gets taken as 'the Christian life is easy, simple' rather than 'the Christian life is good because Christ did the heavy lifting already'; 'I can do all things' gets taken as 'I can do whatever I want' instead of 'no matter the circumstance, I can be content and remain in Christ'. Today's example even goes so far as to edit the actual biblical text with words more suited to our purposes in comfort-seeking. The word 'temptation' is removed entirely and the connotation becomes something wholly different than its intended purpose. We take verses out of context because we like to be comfortable, and we want to find ways to justify that comfort.
I am as guilty of this as anyone. Perhaps I appear very diligent about keeping verses in context. How about all the verses I politely ignore because of their implications? No, I am not free from this sin. But God has begun a work in me that I hope, trust, and pray will extend to you, dear reader. Seeking our personal comfort is the same as seeking our personal destruction.
The bad news is that there is no verse in the Bible which states, "God will not give you more than you can handle."
The good news is that what the Bible actually says is far better.
Allow me to explain:
What most people quote as "God will not give you more than you can handle" is actually an adaptation of 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide a way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
That's a big difference, and I hope you caught it. The adapted version makes you feel like God knows exactly who you are and will only 'put on' you what He knows you can take. The actual verse states that this is in reference to temptation and that He will provide another route to take so that you can endure the temptation. Think of Jesus in the desert. Satan comes to tempt Him with food and power and riches beyond anything the world had to offer. Jesus doesn't skip the temptation. He faces it, and with the Word He rebukes His enemy who subsequently leaves. God provides His Word to combat the temptations of the enemy so that when those temptations come you can endure them without succumbing to them. Read that sentence again.
Here is how this verse should be used. It is meant to show that God is not the tempter, though He will allow for temptation for the sake of refining the faith of His children. It is part of God's sanctifying work in our lives that we face temptations and learn, by His grace, to overcome them. Here are some supporting verses that I would commend to you for your edification on this subject:
Deuteronomy 7:9 - this verse is alluded to by Paul in the passage to the Corinthians (note: "faithful God")
Mark 1: 12-13 - it was the Holy Spirit that 'drove' Jesus into the wilderness where He was tempted (note: the Holy Spirit drove but Satan tempted)
Hebrews 4:14-16 - this is essentially the gospel as it relates to temptation
James 1:13 - simple enough: "Let no one say..., 'I am being tempted by God.'"
1 John 2:16 - worldly things are worldly, not godly and not from God
Perhaps you're thinking, "But I like the interpretation where God doesn't give us more than we can handle." First, too bad, that's not what it says. Second, what the Bible says is even better.
God regularly gives us more than we can handle. Why? Because He wants us to rely on Him for everything (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:25-34). He desires that we would allow His grace to be the most obvious characteristic marking our lives (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). A cursory glance at the Davidic Psalms would be enough to reveal how true this is. Honestly, how often did David write about being surrounded by his enemies and how only the Lord could deliver him? If you want a stirring example of this and of the lengths to which God will go to rescue one of His children in danger, read Psalm 18. God delights in giving us more than we can handle because He delights in our recognition of our need for Him. And then, when He brings us through those overwhelming times, He allows us to experience an ounce of His delight when we are able to comfort someone going through a similar situation (2 Corinthians 1:3-7). This is a far better reality than one wherein God makes sure to hold back the hard stuff because 'we can't handle it', thereby turning us into spoiled children who have lost all concept of gratitude and humility.
In the words of Monty Python, 'and now for something completely different':
For those who have been paying attention to my posts about biblical interpretation, you may have caught a theme. Just in case, I will elucidate it. Context is critical to understanding Scripture. It is possible to make any single verse of the Bible say whatever you want it to say. When you take into account the context, however, this is not possible. In fact, it is often ridiculous. My encouragement is this: read the Bible, all of it, and don't settle for anything cheaper than the Truth.
For those who have really been paying attention, you may have caught a second theme. The verses that get taken out of context are often placed into a context which makes it sound like our lives as Christians should be more comfortable. Think about it - 'my yoke is easy' gets taken as 'the Christian life is easy, simple' rather than 'the Christian life is good because Christ did the heavy lifting already'; 'I can do all things' gets taken as 'I can do whatever I want' instead of 'no matter the circumstance, I can be content and remain in Christ'. Today's example even goes so far as to edit the actual biblical text with words more suited to our purposes in comfort-seeking. The word 'temptation' is removed entirely and the connotation becomes something wholly different than its intended purpose. We take verses out of context because we like to be comfortable, and we want to find ways to justify that comfort.
I am as guilty of this as anyone. Perhaps I appear very diligent about keeping verses in context. How about all the verses I politely ignore because of their implications? No, I am not free from this sin. But God has begun a work in me that I hope, trust, and pray will extend to you, dear reader. Seeking our personal comfort is the same as seeking our personal destruction.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A (Re)New(ed) Mission
The following Scripture is where my heart is right now. It's a longer passage than one would normally post in a blog, but I hope you'll stick with it. It's the Bible, after all.
Philippians 1:18c-30
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Let me make two preliminary statements: 1) No, I am not suicidal. In relating to this verse very closely, I am not 'wishing for death'. I am, however, wishing to be with Christ. And that's a big difference. 2) I do not think so highly of myself as to believe I'm at the same place Paul was in his life as he was writing to the church at Philippi.
I read this passage this evening just prior to the start of Prayer Meeting at the Chicago Tabernacle, and it stuck with me all night. I kept going back to it throughout the service, reading and rereading what Paul had written. The Lord communicated something very clearly to me toward the end of the service, and I pulled out my journal and wrote the following:
What is my mission if not to lay my life down for the Body, to sacrifice myself for the Church, to labor for the lost, to challenge and exhort and teach and rebuke and encourage those who have ears to hear? Is it (my life) not meant for these things? Who am I to anchor my life in the harbor of complacency? No, I am meant for stormy seas, unfettered and free.
While it is my desire to see Christen again in Heaven, my primary hope is to see Jesus. The Lord took Christen and not me, which means I am here for some purpose. As I wrote about yesterday, that purpose is this process. He has me here for this reason. And while His reasoning and plan is for my ultimate good, I also recognize that it is not solely for my good. It is for yours as well. My stormy seas are meant to be put on display so that you would be encouraged in your stormy seas - encouraged to know that my life is not one of 'exceptional faith', just biblical faith. I am, by all stretches of the imagination, a regular person. With a regular job, a regular home full of regular furniture, eating regular food purchased from a regular (sometimes meager) bank account.
Do you see it yet as I see it? The Lord has not taken me because He has me here to share with you my sufferings, thereby emboldening your faith.
Perhaps you're reading this and you are not what you would call a 'born again Christian'. Perhaps what I write here, while 'inspiring', doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to you. Please understand that, without the grace of God in the person of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, I would be a mess right now. It is because of Jesus that I have hope. He came, fulfilled prophecy, lived a perfect life, died an undeserved death, rose from that death in power, thus defeating Satan, sin and death, took on your sin (imperfections) and my sin for Himself and gives out His righteousness to those who would believe. In so doing, He has made available eternal life in Heaven with Him for those who would turn from their sin, repent, believe in Him, and love Him and others by His grace. If you're reading this and you don't know Jesus, that's who He is and what He's done for you. Accept it. Accept Him. And see if He won't fill your life as abundantly as He has mine.
For those who do know and love Jesus, I am here for you. As Paul wrote, I would much rather be with Jesus. That's where the 'gain' is. But I am here to encourage you and build you up. I am here to challenge you if you get complacent. I am here to redirect you when your thinking is off. I am here for you.
When I first wrote my mission statement nearly 4 years ago, I liked the way it sounded. It resonated with the type of person I wanted to be. I now realize how true the statement is to what God has called me to be. My mission is this: To be joyfully spent making others glad in God. I will work to this end, by God's grace, until He sees fit to fulfill my deepest desire - going Home and meeting Him.
Philippians 1:18c-30
Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Let me make two preliminary statements: 1) No, I am not suicidal. In relating to this verse very closely, I am not 'wishing for death'. I am, however, wishing to be with Christ. And that's a big difference. 2) I do not think so highly of myself as to believe I'm at the same place Paul was in his life as he was writing to the church at Philippi.
I read this passage this evening just prior to the start of Prayer Meeting at the Chicago Tabernacle, and it stuck with me all night. I kept going back to it throughout the service, reading and rereading what Paul had written. The Lord communicated something very clearly to me toward the end of the service, and I pulled out my journal and wrote the following:
What is my mission if not to lay my life down for the Body, to sacrifice myself for the Church, to labor for the lost, to challenge and exhort and teach and rebuke and encourage those who have ears to hear? Is it (my life) not meant for these things? Who am I to anchor my life in the harbor of complacency? No, I am meant for stormy seas, unfettered and free.
While it is my desire to see Christen again in Heaven, my primary hope is to see Jesus. The Lord took Christen and not me, which means I am here for some purpose. As I wrote about yesterday, that purpose is this process. He has me here for this reason. And while His reasoning and plan is for my ultimate good, I also recognize that it is not solely for my good. It is for yours as well. My stormy seas are meant to be put on display so that you would be encouraged in your stormy seas - encouraged to know that my life is not one of 'exceptional faith', just biblical faith. I am, by all stretches of the imagination, a regular person. With a regular job, a regular home full of regular furniture, eating regular food purchased from a regular (sometimes meager) bank account.
Do you see it yet as I see it? The Lord has not taken me because He has me here to share with you my sufferings, thereby emboldening your faith.
Perhaps you're reading this and you are not what you would call a 'born again Christian'. Perhaps what I write here, while 'inspiring', doesn't really make a whole lot of sense to you. Please understand that, without the grace of God in the person of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, I would be a mess right now. It is because of Jesus that I have hope. He came, fulfilled prophecy, lived a perfect life, died an undeserved death, rose from that death in power, thus defeating Satan, sin and death, took on your sin (imperfections) and my sin for Himself and gives out His righteousness to those who would believe. In so doing, He has made available eternal life in Heaven with Him for those who would turn from their sin, repent, believe in Him, and love Him and others by His grace. If you're reading this and you don't know Jesus, that's who He is and what He's done for you. Accept it. Accept Him. And see if He won't fill your life as abundantly as He has mine.
For those who do know and love Jesus, I am here for you. As Paul wrote, I would much rather be with Jesus. That's where the 'gain' is. But I am here to encourage you and build you up. I am here to challenge you if you get complacent. I am here to redirect you when your thinking is off. I am here for you.
When I first wrote my mission statement nearly 4 years ago, I liked the way it sounded. It resonated with the type of person I wanted to be. I now realize how true the statement is to what God has called me to be. My mission is this: To be joyfully spent making others glad in God. I will work to this end, by God's grace, until He sees fit to fulfill my deepest desire - going Home and meeting Him.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Process is the Purpose
We have all heard it said: "There's a purpose in the process." It is meant as a statement of comfort. We can know that, no matter how challenging some situations are, we will be able to look back and know that we 'learned something'. "Hindsight is 20/20," is commonly used in conjunction with this idea. All of this feels good to us. We know that, in the end, 'it'll all work out'. Are you tired of the cliche phrases yet?
Christen flipped this whole notion on its head one day as we were talking. I don't know if this idea originated with her, but she's who I heard it from first. She said, "The process is the purpose." That's a much more truthful and much less comfortable way of looking at life. And yet, it is also the most biblical.
You see, when you spend your time thinking about what 'purpose' there is in your current 'process', you miss what's happening at the moment for the sake of contemplating what the results of the process will be. You become destination-minded. You're always wondering about 'arriving' and 'getting there', not realizing that there is no 'there' at which to 'arrive'.
The danger in this type of thinking is that you miss all that God has for you now. The focus is past and future, not present. You focus on the past because you're realizing all the things God did in and for you in a previous season, and you focus on the future because you can't wait to look back on the season you're in now to see what you can learn. In the meantime, you completely skip everything that's actually happening in real time.
OR
You can change your focus to precisely where God has you now, and you can begin to enjoy the situations in which you find yourself because you trust in the One working out the process. It is at this moment that your eyes are finally and truly open to what God is doing in you. This is sanctification.
I am in a process right now, a process that is at once excruciating, beautiful, trying, encouraging, intimate, lonely, powerful, and humbling. In a word, it's hard. By recognizing that God has so much for me now, at this moment and not just the moments 'down the road', I have been able to sense a nearness to God that I would have missed had I been only past and future focused. God wants me to know the immensity of His plan, and so He sends me stories from strangers every day - people I have never met telling me how Christen's blog or my blog or the funeral message of my Facebook posts have encouraged them, built them up, brought them to salvation, and transformed their lives. Every day. I rejoice in that.
At the same time, He has given me the grace to weep bitterly over my feelings of loss and loneliness, and in those moments He has drawn close like the loving Father He is. When I pray, He answers immediately and undoubtedly. I ask for grace to get through a day, and it is provided. I ask Him to help me understand, and He brings understanding through a story or His Word or through the comfort of His voice. He reassures me that He is in control, that He has not been caught off guard, that He weeps with me while simultaneously rejoicing with Christen. He is sweet and uncompromising. I have had the privilege of experiencing this because I learned from Christen that, for me, the process is the purpose. I'll know I've 'arrived', that I'm 'there', when I like Christen hear, "Well done."
Christen flipped this whole notion on its head one day as we were talking. I don't know if this idea originated with her, but she's who I heard it from first. She said, "The process is the purpose." That's a much more truthful and much less comfortable way of looking at life. And yet, it is also the most biblical.
You see, when you spend your time thinking about what 'purpose' there is in your current 'process', you miss what's happening at the moment for the sake of contemplating what the results of the process will be. You become destination-minded. You're always wondering about 'arriving' and 'getting there', not realizing that there is no 'there' at which to 'arrive'.
The danger in this type of thinking is that you miss all that God has for you now. The focus is past and future, not present. You focus on the past because you're realizing all the things God did in and for you in a previous season, and you focus on the future because you can't wait to look back on the season you're in now to see what you can learn. In the meantime, you completely skip everything that's actually happening in real time.
OR
You can change your focus to precisely where God has you now, and you can begin to enjoy the situations in which you find yourself because you trust in the One working out the process. It is at this moment that your eyes are finally and truly open to what God is doing in you. This is sanctification.
I am in a process right now, a process that is at once excruciating, beautiful, trying, encouraging, intimate, lonely, powerful, and humbling. In a word, it's hard. By recognizing that God has so much for me now, at this moment and not just the moments 'down the road', I have been able to sense a nearness to God that I would have missed had I been only past and future focused. God wants me to know the immensity of His plan, and so He sends me stories from strangers every day - people I have never met telling me how Christen's blog or my blog or the funeral message of my Facebook posts have encouraged them, built them up, brought them to salvation, and transformed their lives. Every day. I rejoice in that.
At the same time, He has given me the grace to weep bitterly over my feelings of loss and loneliness, and in those moments He has drawn close like the loving Father He is. When I pray, He answers immediately and undoubtedly. I ask for grace to get through a day, and it is provided. I ask Him to help me understand, and He brings understanding through a story or His Word or through the comfort of His voice. He reassures me that He is in control, that He has not been caught off guard, that He weeps with me while simultaneously rejoicing with Christen. He is sweet and uncompromising. I have had the privilege of experiencing this because I learned from Christen that, for me, the process is the purpose. I'll know I've 'arrived', that I'm 'there', when I like Christen hear, "Well done."
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Problem with Pronouns
When Christen and I were married, we committed to being fully vested in one another. We did as the Bible says, and left our father and mother and cleaved to each other. We truly became one flesh - best friends and lovers together.
I am a verbal processor, and as such words are very important to me. Consequently, after marrying Christen I began to realize just how often I referred to myself in the first person singular - I, me, my, mine. For most of you, this would mean absolutely nothing. When you're on your own or recounting something you did individually, you naturally use 'I' and think nothing of it. I sometimes wish I processed that way!
For me, however, speaking in such a way revealed a self-centered inclination in my heart. When I spoke about 'me', I was only thinking about ME. As a small example of this, I once filled out an offering envelope at church and put only my name on it. Christen, seeing this, said, "Hey, I'm part of that, too!" Again, this may seem silly to some, but it was telling to me.
Thus, I learned to speak in first person plural - we, us, our, ours - about nearly everything. Such a small change impacted my thinking and the direction of my heart in profound ways. Every time I said 'we', I thought of Christen, that she and I were 'in on this together'. It also put her in front of anyone to whom I spoke. It was a constant reminder to me and others that I was a one-woman man, and that one woman impacted everything in my life (and I hers). It was now our home, our car, our kids, our money, our decision, our life. And I loved every second of it.
I now find myself in the strange position of undoing that line of thinking. Yes, in one very real sense, it is still our home, our kids, etc. In another equally real sense, it is mine. I still speak in first person plural most of the time without thinking of it. I catch myself at it, and it now serves as an opposite reminder - that in fact it isn't 'us' anymore in the tangible, physical reality of 'us'. The 'us' is part of time past and not time present. To many, this perhaps would seem a trifle compared to the immensity of other issues I am facing. And they would be right. And yet, for me, the chasm between 'us' and 'me' is immeasurably wide.
I am a verbal processor, and as such words are very important to me. Consequently, after marrying Christen I began to realize just how often I referred to myself in the first person singular - I, me, my, mine. For most of you, this would mean absolutely nothing. When you're on your own or recounting something you did individually, you naturally use 'I' and think nothing of it. I sometimes wish I processed that way!
For me, however, speaking in such a way revealed a self-centered inclination in my heart. When I spoke about 'me', I was only thinking about ME. As a small example of this, I once filled out an offering envelope at church and put only my name on it. Christen, seeing this, said, "Hey, I'm part of that, too!" Again, this may seem silly to some, but it was telling to me.
Thus, I learned to speak in first person plural - we, us, our, ours - about nearly everything. Such a small change impacted my thinking and the direction of my heart in profound ways. Every time I said 'we', I thought of Christen, that she and I were 'in on this together'. It also put her in front of anyone to whom I spoke. It was a constant reminder to me and others that I was a one-woman man, and that one woman impacted everything in my life (and I hers). It was now our home, our car, our kids, our money, our decision, our life. And I loved every second of it.
I now find myself in the strange position of undoing that line of thinking. Yes, in one very real sense, it is still our home, our kids, etc. In another equally real sense, it is mine. I still speak in first person plural most of the time without thinking of it. I catch myself at it, and it now serves as an opposite reminder - that in fact it isn't 'us' anymore in the tangible, physical reality of 'us'. The 'us' is part of time past and not time present. To many, this perhaps would seem a trifle compared to the immensity of other issues I am facing. And they would be right. And yet, for me, the chasm between 'us' and 'me' is immeasurably wide.
Friday, February 17, 2012
The Tender Warrior
Hudson is 3 1/2. He is all-the-way a stereotypical boy. He likes superheroes, dinosaurs, throwing things (sometimes in frustration, sometimes for fun), yelling, running, tackling, and not washing his hair. Having had Audrey first, Hudson comes across as a bit of a shocker. If ever the innate difference between boys and girls were on display, it would look like what I call 'every day' in my home.
He basically has two emotions - really happy or really angry. Now, in writing that, and in your reading it, my first reaction is to think of some sort of explanation for his anger. Or of a way to 'fix' his anger so that he calms down. Or to think of some soft-spoken, arts-and-crafts sort of way to 'channel that energy'. Here's the thing: I don't want that ferocity to decline. I want it directed at that which requires a ferocious mentality - sin and Satan. I want him to be a destroyer of bad arguments. I want him to annihilate wrong thinking, bad doctrine, besetting sin, and the enemy's lies wherever he confronts them. In short, I want him to be a warrior.
Nonetheless, he can't always be fighting. He must learn to compliment a ferocious approach to killing sin with a gentleness and compassion for lost and hurting people and his loved ones. This will be my challenge with him - how to teach him compassion on the one hand and brutality on the other, all the while imparting the wisdom necessary to discern between the appropriate times for each.
At this point, my best option is the one I have taken over the last year - praying with him and for him nightly that he would be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. I further pray that he would learn to be both tough and tender (I take this idea from Darrin Patrick's excellent book, Church Planter). This is the journey I am on with Elijah Hudson, my missionary prophet.
He basically has two emotions - really happy or really angry. Now, in writing that, and in your reading it, my first reaction is to think of some sort of explanation for his anger. Or of a way to 'fix' his anger so that he calms down. Or to think of some soft-spoken, arts-and-crafts sort of way to 'channel that energy'. Here's the thing: I don't want that ferocity to decline. I want it directed at that which requires a ferocious mentality - sin and Satan. I want him to be a destroyer of bad arguments. I want him to annihilate wrong thinking, bad doctrine, besetting sin, and the enemy's lies wherever he confronts them. In short, I want him to be a warrior.
Nonetheless, he can't always be fighting. He must learn to compliment a ferocious approach to killing sin with a gentleness and compassion for lost and hurting people and his loved ones. This will be my challenge with him - how to teach him compassion on the one hand and brutality on the other, all the while imparting the wisdom necessary to discern between the appropriate times for each.
At this point, my best option is the one I have taken over the last year - praying with him and for him nightly that he would be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. I further pray that he would learn to be both tough and tender (I take this idea from Darrin Patrick's excellent book, Church Planter). This is the journey I am on with Elijah Hudson, my missionary prophet.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Prosperity vs Poverty Theology
I have mentioned in a few posts already that there are two common, incorrect views of money and wealth. These are the theologies of prosperity (or 'health and wealth') and poverty. They act as opposites of one another while actually promoting the same root sin: materialism. Let's take a look at each, in an admittedly simple discussion, so that we may better understand how they are both biblically false and from where that falsehood springs.
Prosperity Theology
Prosperity teachers claim that, as Christians, we are 'children of the King' and therefore ought to live accordingly here and now. Possessions are an indicator of faith as well as favor from God. Are you sick? You just need enough faith, and you will be well. Do you need a car? Well don't just pray for provision - pray for a Mercedes! And the Lord will give it based on your faith because He loves to bless His faithful ones with lots of stuff.
In essence, this teaching promotes justification by material possession. After all, the most faithful will be physically rewarded while the less faithful will not. The extremes of this view go so far as to claim that Jesus was wealthy while He walked the earth (because why would the King of Kings walk about in shabby clothes with a bunch of riff-raff and stay in tumble-down shanties?), utterly ignoring the plain biblical reading that Jesus was a poor, homeless manual laborer who was eventually betrayed by His friends and left to die at the hands of the people His Father had placed into power.
Some common texts used by prosperity teachers
Malachi 3:10 - "...And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Phillippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
3 John 2 - "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
Refutation
The belief from prosperity teachers is that the above verses stand as promises of abundant material and physical blessing for the believer. While I could go into a detailed refutation on each of the verses listed above, I'll keep this relatively short for the sake of the overall length of this post.
The verse from Malachi is dealing with one's faithfulness in tithing. God knows we don't want to give up any of our money or wealth because, in our fallen nature, we get worried about our provision. He says here, through the prophet, that the provision is taken care of by Him. Take special note of the final six words of the verse ("until there is no more need"). The blessing is meant to fulfill the needs of those who act in faith with their giving. It does not promise a super-abundance for those who exercise increased giving 'on faith'.
The Philippians verse is hilarious to me because, based on what I wrote last week, one need only back up a couple of verses to see where Paul is coming from. He is content with little, and he is content with much. He can be content because Christ gives him the strength to remain in Him no matter the circumstance. The key words in this verse are "need" and "in Christ". God supplies for needs, and He knows that what we need, more than anything else, can only be found in Christ.
My favorite is 3 John 2. Here's the deal - John was writing a letter. In a letter you give a salutation. This is part of his salutation. He's praying a blessing over those to whom he is writing. Do you ever pray a blessing over someone you deeply care for? Of course! Prosperity teachers turn this prayer of well-wishing into a promise from God. It simply is not so.
Poverty Theology
This is the exact opposite of Prosperity Theology. Essentially, this states that the less you have the more faithful you are. Rather than justification by material possession, it promotes justification by material dispossession. Having possessions results in guilt on the part of the possessor, and getting rid of them relieves the guilt. After all, Jesus was a poor, homeless manual laborer who was eventually betrayed by His friends and left to die at the hands of the people His Father had placed into power.
I must admit that this teaching is more challenging to disprove for me. I am attracted to its notion of 'give it all away for the benefit of others'. It feels very spiritual. And that is why, though it is false, it is hard to reveal its falsehood. It is easy to refute a teaching that promotes getting and having more. We all know gluttony is wrong (unless, as John Piper says so often, we are glutting ourselves on Christ). But extreme generosity? How is that bad?
When the heart behind the seeming generosity is one that is compelled by guilt, it becomes a veiled form of legalism. Rather than operating with generosity from a heart of grace, the giver believes that giving everything away leads to more righteousness in the eyes of God. The giver uplifts the act of getting rid of something for the benefit of someone else to the position of functional savior. In short, the act of giving becomes idolatry.
Given this refutation, it must be stated that this mentality is not so common among those of us operating in the developed world. We like the idea of being generous, but when it comes right down to it, we rarely give sacrificially. This teaching is gaining in popularity, though, so if this post serves as an inoculation, then I am okay with it.
Conclusion
Both teachings stem from one besetting sin: materialism. For the prosperity camp, that's obvious. Faith = having things = worshiping things = materialistic idolatry. But what happens when disaster strikes and your home is destroyed? Or, in my case, a loved one gets sick and doesn't get better but in fact dies? Is that a commentary on the state of my faith and the faith of those who prayed for her healing?
For the poverty camp, materialism takes on a shadow form. Faith = getting rid of things = obsession over things = worshiping the removal of things = materialistic idolatry. But what happens when God, who is a good Dad, wants to give us a present for no other reason than He loves us and wants to bless us (Matthew 7:7-11)? Do we reject it out of hand?
There is substantially more to this discussion, and perhaps I will engage it more thoroughly and more spread out in weeks to come. For now, though, this is a good start.
For more resources on money, wealth, and what we should do with it, check out the following:
Doctrine, by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, chapter 12
Money: God or Gift, by Jamie Munson
The Blessed Life, by Robert Morris
Prosperity Theology
Prosperity teachers claim that, as Christians, we are 'children of the King' and therefore ought to live accordingly here and now. Possessions are an indicator of faith as well as favor from God. Are you sick? You just need enough faith, and you will be well. Do you need a car? Well don't just pray for provision - pray for a Mercedes! And the Lord will give it based on your faith because He loves to bless His faithful ones with lots of stuff.
In essence, this teaching promotes justification by material possession. After all, the most faithful will be physically rewarded while the less faithful will not. The extremes of this view go so far as to claim that Jesus was wealthy while He walked the earth (because why would the King of Kings walk about in shabby clothes with a bunch of riff-raff and stay in tumble-down shanties?), utterly ignoring the plain biblical reading that Jesus was a poor, homeless manual laborer who was eventually betrayed by His friends and left to die at the hands of the people His Father had placed into power.
Some common texts used by prosperity teachers
Malachi 3:10 - "...And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need."
Phillippians 4:19 - "And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
3 John 2 - "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."
Refutation
The belief from prosperity teachers is that the above verses stand as promises of abundant material and physical blessing for the believer. While I could go into a detailed refutation on each of the verses listed above, I'll keep this relatively short for the sake of the overall length of this post.
The verse from Malachi is dealing with one's faithfulness in tithing. God knows we don't want to give up any of our money or wealth because, in our fallen nature, we get worried about our provision. He says here, through the prophet, that the provision is taken care of by Him. Take special note of the final six words of the verse ("until there is no more need"). The blessing is meant to fulfill the needs of those who act in faith with their giving. It does not promise a super-abundance for those who exercise increased giving 'on faith'.
The Philippians verse is hilarious to me because, based on what I wrote last week, one need only back up a couple of verses to see where Paul is coming from. He is content with little, and he is content with much. He can be content because Christ gives him the strength to remain in Him no matter the circumstance. The key words in this verse are "need" and "in Christ". God supplies for needs, and He knows that what we need, more than anything else, can only be found in Christ.
My favorite is 3 John 2. Here's the deal - John was writing a letter. In a letter you give a salutation. This is part of his salutation. He's praying a blessing over those to whom he is writing. Do you ever pray a blessing over someone you deeply care for? Of course! Prosperity teachers turn this prayer of well-wishing into a promise from God. It simply is not so.
Poverty Theology
This is the exact opposite of Prosperity Theology. Essentially, this states that the less you have the more faithful you are. Rather than justification by material possession, it promotes justification by material dispossession. Having possessions results in guilt on the part of the possessor, and getting rid of them relieves the guilt. After all, Jesus was a poor, homeless manual laborer who was eventually betrayed by His friends and left to die at the hands of the people His Father had placed into power.
I must admit that this teaching is more challenging to disprove for me. I am attracted to its notion of 'give it all away for the benefit of others'. It feels very spiritual. And that is why, though it is false, it is hard to reveal its falsehood. It is easy to refute a teaching that promotes getting and having more. We all know gluttony is wrong (unless, as John Piper says so often, we are glutting ourselves on Christ). But extreme generosity? How is that bad?
When the heart behind the seeming generosity is one that is compelled by guilt, it becomes a veiled form of legalism. Rather than operating with generosity from a heart of grace, the giver believes that giving everything away leads to more righteousness in the eyes of God. The giver uplifts the act of getting rid of something for the benefit of someone else to the position of functional savior. In short, the act of giving becomes idolatry.
Given this refutation, it must be stated that this mentality is not so common among those of us operating in the developed world. We like the idea of being generous, but when it comes right down to it, we rarely give sacrificially. This teaching is gaining in popularity, though, so if this post serves as an inoculation, then I am okay with it.
Conclusion
Both teachings stem from one besetting sin: materialism. For the prosperity camp, that's obvious. Faith = having things = worshiping things = materialistic idolatry. But what happens when disaster strikes and your home is destroyed? Or, in my case, a loved one gets sick and doesn't get better but in fact dies? Is that a commentary on the state of my faith and the faith of those who prayed for her healing?
For the poverty camp, materialism takes on a shadow form. Faith = getting rid of things = obsession over things = worshiping the removal of things = materialistic idolatry. But what happens when God, who is a good Dad, wants to give us a present for no other reason than He loves us and wants to bless us (Matthew 7:7-11)? Do we reject it out of hand?
There is substantially more to this discussion, and perhaps I will engage it more thoroughly and more spread out in weeks to come. For now, though, this is a good start.
For more resources on money, wealth, and what we should do with it, check out the following:
Doctrine, by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears, chapter 12
Money: God or Gift, by Jamie Munson
The Blessed Life, by Robert Morris
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Christen's Funeral Message
As many of you know, some because you were there and others because you heard or have read the early posts of this blog, I preached Christen's funeral. While I do not feel obligated to get into the details as to why I chose to do that, nonetheless I believe it is beneficial to do so. After this brief explanation, please take a moment to watch and listen to the message God helped me to deliver at Christen's Going Home Celebration (for that was what is was - this was no ordinary 'funeral service').
*The audio for the message was recorded from the main sound board, so it sounds great. However, since there was not a 'video person' at the service, the video was captured by a few iPhones and an iPad and spliced together for the sake of some sort of visual. Thus, have grace for the imperfections in the video and pay closer attention to the audio.*
To understand the decision, you must first understand the context from which the decision was made. Since 2009, the Lord has been revealing and refining my call to ministry, the overarching theme being that He has called, confirmed, and equipped me to preach, teach, and write. With that in mind, and considering the fact that Christen and I were in perpetual conversation with one another, this was a frequent topic discussed in our home. What was the Lord doing in us? How would this call play out? What would Christen's role in all of it look like? Are we planting a church or building a ministry within our current church? Perhaps the latter first and then the former? We had no concrete answers to these questions, and thus we remained rooted where we were, doing what the Lord put before us while we continued to aggressively pursue His will for our life. Many opportunities came up, which we took before the Lord. He always said, "No, that's not it," because He's faithful to reveal His will to those who ask, seek, and knock like the persistent widow.
I tell you all of this so that you can begin to understand - we were operating under the belief that I would eventually be regularly preaching and teaching somewhere, whether our current church or one that the Lord led us to start. It was in this context that we had the conversation about my preaching her funeral.
It came about because of a few messages we had heard by Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. I've racked my brain, but I can't think of exactly which message it was we were listening to when we talked about it. However, Pastor Mark talks about this relatively frequently, especially when he's preaching on men in ministry or preaching or marriage, so if you want to do some digging, you won't have to look too far. Start here and see what you find. As an extra note to this, I must say that the teaching of Pastor Mark on marriage and family caused a revival in our home during the final two years of Christen's life. Specific messages of his altered how I prioritized my time, how Christen viewed being a stay-at-home-mom, how we viewed our marriage in light of the ministry, and even our sex life. Truly, our home dynamic underwent a dramatic and positive change. So, should Pastor Mark ever come across this post, I would say to him: Thank you.
It was in one of his messages where he stated that he prays often, if not every day, that God would allow him to outlive his wife, the appropriately named Grace, so that he can take care of her until such a time as the Lord takes her to be with Him. He wants to preach her funeral and lead her in that as well. Christen and I were stunned. We loved it. We agreed at that moment that I would preach her funeral, that I would be the person to shepherd those closest to us in that moment and to speak forth the gospel and the glory of God, the very things for which she and I stood most stridently.
When we had this conversation and came to this agreement, we did not realize it would come to fruition so soon. Remember, we were thinking in the context of 'down the road' where I was already an established preacher. We didn't know that the first sermon I would ever preach would in fact be her funeral. And yet this was what lay before me upon her passing. I told my pastor what I intended to do, and he graciously offered no resistance, only support and encouragement. By the grace of God, on January 13, 2012, four days after Christen's passing, I stood up and delivered the following message. I pray it will be a blessing to you, and please share it with others as you find it beneficial.
*The audio for the message was recorded from the main sound board, so it sounds great. However, since there was not a 'video person' at the service, the video was captured by a few iPhones and an iPad and spliced together for the sake of some sort of visual. Thus, have grace for the imperfections in the video and pay closer attention to the audio.*
To understand the decision, you must first understand the context from which the decision was made. Since 2009, the Lord has been revealing and refining my call to ministry, the overarching theme being that He has called, confirmed, and equipped me to preach, teach, and write. With that in mind, and considering the fact that Christen and I were in perpetual conversation with one another, this was a frequent topic discussed in our home. What was the Lord doing in us? How would this call play out? What would Christen's role in all of it look like? Are we planting a church or building a ministry within our current church? Perhaps the latter first and then the former? We had no concrete answers to these questions, and thus we remained rooted where we were, doing what the Lord put before us while we continued to aggressively pursue His will for our life. Many opportunities came up, which we took before the Lord. He always said, "No, that's not it," because He's faithful to reveal His will to those who ask, seek, and knock like the persistent widow.
I tell you all of this so that you can begin to understand - we were operating under the belief that I would eventually be regularly preaching and teaching somewhere, whether our current church or one that the Lord led us to start. It was in this context that we had the conversation about my preaching her funeral.
It came about because of a few messages we had heard by Pastor Mark Driscoll from Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. I've racked my brain, but I can't think of exactly which message it was we were listening to when we talked about it. However, Pastor Mark talks about this relatively frequently, especially when he's preaching on men in ministry or preaching or marriage, so if you want to do some digging, you won't have to look too far. Start here and see what you find. As an extra note to this, I must say that the teaching of Pastor Mark on marriage and family caused a revival in our home during the final two years of Christen's life. Specific messages of his altered how I prioritized my time, how Christen viewed being a stay-at-home-mom, how we viewed our marriage in light of the ministry, and even our sex life. Truly, our home dynamic underwent a dramatic and positive change. So, should Pastor Mark ever come across this post, I would say to him: Thank you.
It was in one of his messages where he stated that he prays often, if not every day, that God would allow him to outlive his wife, the appropriately named Grace, so that he can take care of her until such a time as the Lord takes her to be with Him. He wants to preach her funeral and lead her in that as well. Christen and I were stunned. We loved it. We agreed at that moment that I would preach her funeral, that I would be the person to shepherd those closest to us in that moment and to speak forth the gospel and the glory of God, the very things for which she and I stood most stridently.
When we had this conversation and came to this agreement, we did not realize it would come to fruition so soon. Remember, we were thinking in the context of 'down the road' where I was already an established preacher. We didn't know that the first sermon I would ever preach would in fact be her funeral. And yet this was what lay before me upon her passing. I told my pastor what I intended to do, and he graciously offered no resistance, only support and encouragement. By the grace of God, on January 13, 2012, four days after Christen's passing, I stood up and delivered the following message. I pray it will be a blessing to you, and please share it with others as you find it beneficial.
Monday, February 13, 2012
February 11, 2012
The following article is an excerpt from my journal. I began writing in it not only as a way to begin processing my grief but also as a means of emptying my mind of all the thoughts that were swirling around. I desire that people know what faith-filled grief can look like for someone in the very early stages and how it progresses over time.
The medical bills have started to come in, and it's a fresh reminder of all that went on during Christen's final few days. One was a 12-page packet detailing her stay in the ICU post-biopsy. I had to pause at one entry - EEG Eval Cerebral Death, it read. I flashed back to those final hours. I had/have tried to soak up as much of her as I could/can, and yet after just over a month (only), I am losing track of her voice, her expressions and mannerisms, the way she smelled and tasted and felt. I sat on the bed fighting to remember - REMEMBER - but found I was losing the battle. I'm disgusted with myself and my memory. I want to fight for every moment to come back, for my memories to be triggered...
(later that day)
I have just spent several minutes simply recalling details of that time in the hospital. I'm realizing just how much pain is still there for me. With all the other things that have been going on, I've been able to compartmentalize my actual grief away from my presentable or public grief. This must stop if I am to successfully and successively move through my grief process. As hard as today has been, this is a good realization to come to.
(end of journal excerpt, start of other thoughts)
As stated in the journal excerpt above, I had not been going to the places in my mind where grief might dwell for well over a week. My brain, frankly, didn't want to get into it. I've compartmentalized all of that, and I like to keep it on a high shelf rather than one that is more accessible. Well, I got in there on Saturday, and it was hard but beautiful all the same. I got to really remember her final moments of full consciousness, for which - praise God! - I was able to be present.
I remember two moments that stand out from the minutes we had together prior to her going in for the biopsy. First, she gave me a longer kiss than I expected just moments before being wheeled into the O.R. You see, I had prayed for her, kissed her, and told her I loved her, but then we stayed there for a few minutes longer. When they came at last to take her in, she kissed me again, longer, and we expressed our love one more time. It was just a moment, not more than half a second I'd guess, but it was she who stayed in it longer, communicating through her kiss, "I don't want to go just yet; I like it right here."
Second, when she was part-way between the me and the O.R. doors, she turned her head back and gave me that famous smile of hers. Those who know her know to what I am referring. For those who don't, I will attempt to describe it. Christen's smile was the kind that you see from across a large room. Her mouth was big, like she-could-put-her-fist-in-her-mouth big. Her teeth were perfectly straight and luminously white. Her lips were full, especially her bottom lip which appeared to be perpetually pouting (though she, herself, rarely did). The aesthetics of her smile were flawless.
Yet it was the effect of her smile that makes it so memorable. Wherever you were and whatever you were going through, when she smiled at you, it was like returning home after months of being away. Love, joy, and peace were communicated through this simple upward parting, and it actually produced those same feelings in you, even though you knew you hadn't been feeling them seconds prior. You felt comfortable, welcomed, understood, cared for, accepted, and loved. You realized that things were not, perhaps, as bad as they seemed, and even if they were it would work out by the grace of God. "This too shall pass," would come into your mind for the first time.
As her husband, when she smiled, when she really smiled, it would feel as though all the cares, concerns, anxieties, frustrations, and stresses of the day/week/month/year could wait for a minute. I could just stop...stare...be amazed at how shockingly beautiful my wife was...and relax. Her smile reminded me of my priorities, and all those other things just didn't make the list when set next to that. It was this smile that I received on that day. That's the final moment I truly shared with my wife. It has been scorched into my heart and mind. It is brutally difficult and intensely sweet.
The medical bills have started to come in, and it's a fresh reminder of all that went on during Christen's final few days. One was a 12-page packet detailing her stay in the ICU post-biopsy. I had to pause at one entry - EEG Eval Cerebral Death, it read. I flashed back to those final hours. I had/have tried to soak up as much of her as I could/can, and yet after just over a month (only), I am losing track of her voice, her expressions and mannerisms, the way she smelled and tasted and felt. I sat on the bed fighting to remember - REMEMBER - but found I was losing the battle. I'm disgusted with myself and my memory. I want to fight for every moment to come back, for my memories to be triggered...
(later that day)
I have just spent several minutes simply recalling details of that time in the hospital. I'm realizing just how much pain is still there for me. With all the other things that have been going on, I've been able to compartmentalize my actual grief away from my presentable or public grief. This must stop if I am to successfully and successively move through my grief process. As hard as today has been, this is a good realization to come to.
(end of journal excerpt, start of other thoughts)
As stated in the journal excerpt above, I had not been going to the places in my mind where grief might dwell for well over a week. My brain, frankly, didn't want to get into it. I've compartmentalized all of that, and I like to keep it on a high shelf rather than one that is more accessible. Well, I got in there on Saturday, and it was hard but beautiful all the same. I got to really remember her final moments of full consciousness, for which - praise God! - I was able to be present.
I remember two moments that stand out from the minutes we had together prior to her going in for the biopsy. First, she gave me a longer kiss than I expected just moments before being wheeled into the O.R. You see, I had prayed for her, kissed her, and told her I loved her, but then we stayed there for a few minutes longer. When they came at last to take her in, she kissed me again, longer, and we expressed our love one more time. It was just a moment, not more than half a second I'd guess, but it was she who stayed in it longer, communicating through her kiss, "I don't want to go just yet; I like it right here."
Second, when she was part-way between the me and the O.R. doors, she turned her head back and gave me that famous smile of hers. Those who know her know to what I am referring. For those who don't, I will attempt to describe it. Christen's smile was the kind that you see from across a large room. Her mouth was big, like she-could-put-her-fist-in-her-mouth big. Her teeth were perfectly straight and luminously white. Her lips were full, especially her bottom lip which appeared to be perpetually pouting (though she, herself, rarely did). The aesthetics of her smile were flawless.
Yet it was the effect of her smile that makes it so memorable. Wherever you were and whatever you were going through, when she smiled at you, it was like returning home after months of being away. Love, joy, and peace were communicated through this simple upward parting, and it actually produced those same feelings in you, even though you knew you hadn't been feeling them seconds prior. You felt comfortable, welcomed, understood, cared for, accepted, and loved. You realized that things were not, perhaps, as bad as they seemed, and even if they were it would work out by the grace of God. "This too shall pass," would come into your mind for the first time.
As her husband, when she smiled, when she really smiled, it would feel as though all the cares, concerns, anxieties, frustrations, and stresses of the day/week/month/year could wait for a minute. I could just stop...stare...be amazed at how shockingly beautiful my wife was...and relax. Her smile reminded me of my priorities, and all those other things just didn't make the list when set next to that. It was this smile that I received on that day. That's the final moment I truly shared with my wife. It has been scorched into my heart and mind. It is brutally difficult and intensely sweet.
Friday, February 10, 2012
The Trials and Triumphs of Raising a Theologian
Audrey is 5 years old. She's been raised in the church. I'm talking multiple services every week, being held like a football while Daddy worked the sound board and Mommy sang in the choir, ministry road trip at 2 months old, singing in the children's choir, small group at our house, memorizing Scripture, praying in the microphone, talking to strangers about Jesus - THAT kind of raised in church.
Add to this the fact that I have read the Bible and prayed with her every night since she was 2. At first, it was the picture Bible and a short prayer from Daddy. Then she got her very own Bible, an NIV complete with lilac-colored cover and stitched-on flowers. From that point on, the story Bible just wouldn't cut it. We had to read from the story Bible AND the Bible Bible every night. And, she learned how to pray. Presently, she joins Hudson and I while I read to him (from the Jesus Storybook Bible), and then she gets in her bed while I pray with him. I then go to her room, where we read from The Big Picture Story Bible, a passage from her NIV, we pray, and finally I read a chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia book we happen to be in (currently, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe).
At 5, she has become one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking people, adult or child, that I have ever met. Yes, I am biased, but I am not trying to exaggerate too much. We have had conversations about heaven, hell, the necessity of the cross, the Trinity (that one didn't go well), the importance of sharing the gospel, the centrality of the Bible, and many of the attributes of God. It is not amazing that we talk about these things; it isn't even totally amazing that she understands them (after all, that would be something for which I could attempt to take some credit). What is absolutely mind-boggling is her ability to deeply comprehend these complex truths, articulate them in a way that shows this understanding, and then connect them to each other. Her capacity for Truth goes well beyond Daddy as teacher to Jesus as Master.
I write all of this not to make her sound super-human but to say that, as her father, God is going to have to continually refresh me with biblical insight and a God-ward perspective as I teach her. I must keep Jesus as the center of my life and subsequently my home. To be very honest, I relied heavily on Christen to bring the 'softer touch' when it came to raising this little girl. I have always been more than happy to teach her the Bible and about prayer. But worship? Handling oneself with grace? I must admit, I leaned on Christen for these things. I am very direct - grace is a challenge. I am a bass player - singing isn't my 'natural' form of worship. Yet I am without excuse, and the Lord has put forth the challenge.
Faced now with the prospect of raising a daughter with no mother, I have many fears and insecurities. How do I braid hair? What in the world is the difference between lip gloss, lip balm, and lipstick? Jeggings...really? How do I resolve the inevitable body image issues? How do I teach her about the 'gentle and quiet spirit' Peter writes about?
My personal tendency is to say, "Okay, I'll just be both mother and father to her. I'll figure it out. I can do it all!" That simply is not possible, nor should it be something I strive for. Shortly after Christen's passing, Audrey stated, "Now Jesus is my mommy." As usual, she had the right perspective.
I know this, however: As her father, my primary responsibility is to show her love so that she can comprehend her Heavenly Father's love for her. Further, I am to be a gentleman to her so that she recognizes her great value and does not give herself to some sweet-talker with bad intentions and no ability to lead her simply because he shows interest. My desire for her is that she is thoroughly unimpressed by 'the field' of men until such a time as her husband shows up. I desire for her to see Jesus as the lover of her soul, and the foundation for that is built on how I love her now.
Raising a daughter is an awesome responsibility. Raising this particular daughter is especially daunting due to her beauty, compassion, sensitivity, and capacity. Over the years, many people have commented that their first impression of her was one of intimidation - they were intimidated by her. I confess, so am I.
God, grant me the grace to love her well - nourishing her soul with Your Presence, washing her heart with Your Word, and filling her mind with Your Truth. Amen.
Add to this the fact that I have read the Bible and prayed with her every night since she was 2. At first, it was the picture Bible and a short prayer from Daddy. Then she got her very own Bible, an NIV complete with lilac-colored cover and stitched-on flowers. From that point on, the story Bible just wouldn't cut it. We had to read from the story Bible AND the Bible Bible every night. And, she learned how to pray. Presently, she joins Hudson and I while I read to him (from the Jesus Storybook Bible), and then she gets in her bed while I pray with him. I then go to her room, where we read from The Big Picture Story Bible, a passage from her NIV, we pray, and finally I read a chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia book we happen to be in (currently, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe).
At 5, she has become one of the most thoughtful and thought-provoking people, adult or child, that I have ever met. Yes, I am biased, but I am not trying to exaggerate too much. We have had conversations about heaven, hell, the necessity of the cross, the Trinity (that one didn't go well), the importance of sharing the gospel, the centrality of the Bible, and many of the attributes of God. It is not amazing that we talk about these things; it isn't even totally amazing that she understands them (after all, that would be something for which I could attempt to take some credit). What is absolutely mind-boggling is her ability to deeply comprehend these complex truths, articulate them in a way that shows this understanding, and then connect them to each other. Her capacity for Truth goes well beyond Daddy as teacher to Jesus as Master.
I write all of this not to make her sound super-human but to say that, as her father, God is going to have to continually refresh me with biblical insight and a God-ward perspective as I teach her. I must keep Jesus as the center of my life and subsequently my home. To be very honest, I relied heavily on Christen to bring the 'softer touch' when it came to raising this little girl. I have always been more than happy to teach her the Bible and about prayer. But worship? Handling oneself with grace? I must admit, I leaned on Christen for these things. I am very direct - grace is a challenge. I am a bass player - singing isn't my 'natural' form of worship. Yet I am without excuse, and the Lord has put forth the challenge.
Faced now with the prospect of raising a daughter with no mother, I have many fears and insecurities. How do I braid hair? What in the world is the difference between lip gloss, lip balm, and lipstick? Jeggings...really? How do I resolve the inevitable body image issues? How do I teach her about the 'gentle and quiet spirit' Peter writes about?
My personal tendency is to say, "Okay, I'll just be both mother and father to her. I'll figure it out. I can do it all!" That simply is not possible, nor should it be something I strive for. Shortly after Christen's passing, Audrey stated, "Now Jesus is my mommy." As usual, she had the right perspective.
I know this, however: As her father, my primary responsibility is to show her love so that she can comprehend her Heavenly Father's love for her. Further, I am to be a gentleman to her so that she recognizes her great value and does not give herself to some sweet-talker with bad intentions and no ability to lead her simply because he shows interest. My desire for her is that she is thoroughly unimpressed by 'the field' of men until such a time as her husband shows up. I desire for her to see Jesus as the lover of her soul, and the foundation for that is built on how I love her now.
Raising a daughter is an awesome responsibility. Raising this particular daughter is especially daunting due to her beauty, compassion, sensitivity, and capacity. Over the years, many people have commented that their first impression of her was one of intimidation - they were intimidated by her. I confess, so am I.
God, grant me the grace to love her well - nourishing her soul with Your Presence, washing her heart with Your Word, and filling her mind with Your Truth. Amen.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Philippians 4:13 and the Importance of Context
Today's Theology Thursday post is going to deal with the importance of reading the Bible in context. You see, anyone can take an individual verse of the Bible and make it say whatever they want to serve whatever purpose they need. Thus, you must always read a verse in the context wherein it is found in order to arrive at what it actually means. The way to do this is to read the surrounding verses in order to gather the immediate context. In some, if not many, cases, like the example from last week's post, you must get the context from the rest of the Bible in order to understand the intended meaning. This week's post is an example of the importance of immediate context wherein the passage surrounding a well-known verse provides the intended meaning of that verse.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I can safely say that nearly anyone who has been a follower of Christ for any extended period of time has likely memorized this verse. It is so encouraging! It is such a great promise! The 'him' from the ESV translation of this verse is none other than Christ. It is Christ who strengthens me to do all things. What a tremendous truth to cling to in the worst of times or when facing difficult decisions/situations/circumstances. To know that, no matter what, I can do anything because Christ will give me the strength to do it is such a......wait a minute.
Did you just see that? That's exactly what happens when we aren't careful with handling a singular verse from the Bible. I got excited, and I took what truly is a great promise from God and made it say something that it was never meant to say. Contrary to what has often been put forth in Bible studies, devotionals, and even pulpits across America and around the world, this verse does not say you and I can do anything because Christ will give us the strength. Don't believe me? Let's take a closer look.
The first thing we have to do is check out the surrounding verses. Here they are, starting in verse 10:
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We see from the preceding verses that Paul is addressing the church at Philippi and thanking them for their renewed 'concern' on his behalf. What concern? The concern for his provision. As a traveling missionary, Paul either relied on the generosity of the churches or he entered into a vocation (tent making) in order to supply for his material needs. In making this statement, Paul is showing gratitude for the Philippians desire to bless him materially, in spite of the fact that they were unable to do so in the instance to which Paul is referring.
Paul goes on to ease their potential worry over this by stating that he is content in whatever circumstance he finds himself. When he has had little, he has been satisfied with little. When he has had much, he has been satisfied with much. **While I am presently tempted to go off on a diatribe about both poverty and prosperity theology, I will restrain myself. I'd wager you can fill in the blanks based off of this passage.**
Thus, Paul is content with whatever comes his way. This would naturally beg the question, "How?" Paul, graced by the Holy Spirit, is gracious enough to anticipate the question and answer it. He explains that there is a secret to this contentment. It is a secret that ultimately can only be fully realized in the life of a believer, the life that fully trusts in Jesus as both Lord and Savior. The secret is verse 13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Now that we know the context, let's dig in to the verse itself to see what it is actually saying - phrase by phrase (at this point, I will must state that I am exceedingly grateful for purchasing Logos Bible Software, as I have NO formal Bible training and certainly no language training. I'm not an advertiser for them, but it's great stuff).
I can do
The Greek here is ischuō, which literally means 'to have or exercise force, to be strong, to have efficacy, force, or value'. For those keeping track at home, this same phrase is translated as 'avails much' or 'has great power' in James 5:16.
all things
Here the Greek is pas, translated this way roughly 170 times in the Bible. In other words, 'all things' means 'all things'. You're welcome.
through him
These are both general words in the Greek, 'through' being a preposition and 'him' being a general definitive article. Thus, to understand who 'him' is, one must look at the broader context of Paul's writings to see who was regularly attributed with giving Paul strength. We see that this is 'Christ' or 'the Lord' in the following passages: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:12, and 2 Timothy 4:17. We can therefore safely conclude that it is Christ providing the strength is this verse from Philippians.
who strengthens
The Greek is endunamoō, which means 'to make strong' or 'to strengthen'. This is the exact same phrase used in 2 Timothy 4:17, wherein Paul was 'strengthened' by 'the Lord' to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
me.
This is just a general first person singular pronoun. I include it only because it was the last word, and I wrote earlier that I'd be going phrase by phrase. I simply couldn't leave the sentence incomplete. For all the grammar nerds, as well as all the OCD people, once again you're welcome.
Putting the sentence back together again allows for the following paraphrase: "I am made strong by Jesus, who makes me strong for any circumstance." That's a little awkward sounding, but that's the heart of the verse. We are not made strong so that we can do whatever we want. This verse states that Christ gives us the strength to remain content and faithful no matter what circumstances, good or bad, we are facing. If we have plenty, Christ supplies the strength to stay humble and appreciative; if we are in want, Christ supplies the strength to endure and trust that He will provide. In other words, in 'all things' Christ gives us the strength to remain in Him.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I can safely say that nearly anyone who has been a follower of Christ for any extended period of time has likely memorized this verse. It is so encouraging! It is such a great promise! The 'him' from the ESV translation of this verse is none other than Christ. It is Christ who strengthens me to do all things. What a tremendous truth to cling to in the worst of times or when facing difficult decisions/situations/circumstances. To know that, no matter what, I can do anything because Christ will give me the strength to do it is such a......wait a minute.
Did you just see that? That's exactly what happens when we aren't careful with handling a singular verse from the Bible. I got excited, and I took what truly is a great promise from God and made it say something that it was never meant to say. Contrary to what has often been put forth in Bible studies, devotionals, and even pulpits across America and around the world, this verse does not say you and I can do anything because Christ will give us the strength. Don't believe me? Let's take a closer look.
The first thing we have to do is check out the surrounding verses. Here they are, starting in verse 10:
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
We see from the preceding verses that Paul is addressing the church at Philippi and thanking them for their renewed 'concern' on his behalf. What concern? The concern for his provision. As a traveling missionary, Paul either relied on the generosity of the churches or he entered into a vocation (tent making) in order to supply for his material needs. In making this statement, Paul is showing gratitude for the Philippians desire to bless him materially, in spite of the fact that they were unable to do so in the instance to which Paul is referring.
Paul goes on to ease their potential worry over this by stating that he is content in whatever circumstance he finds himself. When he has had little, he has been satisfied with little. When he has had much, he has been satisfied with much. **While I am presently tempted to go off on a diatribe about both poverty and prosperity theology, I will restrain myself. I'd wager you can fill in the blanks based off of this passage.**
Thus, Paul is content with whatever comes his way. This would naturally beg the question, "How?" Paul, graced by the Holy Spirit, is gracious enough to anticipate the question and answer it. He explains that there is a secret to this contentment. It is a secret that ultimately can only be fully realized in the life of a believer, the life that fully trusts in Jesus as both Lord and Savior. The secret is verse 13 - "I can do all things through him who strengthens me."
Now that we know the context, let's dig in to the verse itself to see what it is actually saying - phrase by phrase (at this point, I will must state that I am exceedingly grateful for purchasing Logos Bible Software, as I have NO formal Bible training and certainly no language training. I'm not an advertiser for them, but it's great stuff).
I can do
The Greek here is ischuō, which literally means 'to have or exercise force, to be strong, to have efficacy, force, or value'. For those keeping track at home, this same phrase is translated as 'avails much' or 'has great power' in James 5:16.
all things
Here the Greek is pas, translated this way roughly 170 times in the Bible. In other words, 'all things' means 'all things'. You're welcome.
through him
These are both general words in the Greek, 'through' being a preposition and 'him' being a general definitive article. Thus, to understand who 'him' is, one must look at the broader context of Paul's writings to see who was regularly attributed with giving Paul strength. We see that this is 'Christ' or 'the Lord' in the following passages: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, 1 Timothy 1:12, and 2 Timothy 4:17. We can therefore safely conclude that it is Christ providing the strength is this verse from Philippians.
who strengthens
The Greek is endunamoō, which means 'to make strong' or 'to strengthen'. This is the exact same phrase used in 2 Timothy 4:17, wherein Paul was 'strengthened' by 'the Lord' to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.
me.
This is just a general first person singular pronoun. I include it only because it was the last word, and I wrote earlier that I'd be going phrase by phrase. I simply couldn't leave the sentence incomplete. For all the grammar nerds, as well as all the OCD people, once again you're welcome.
Putting the sentence back together again allows for the following paraphrase: "I am made strong by Jesus, who makes me strong for any circumstance." That's a little awkward sounding, but that's the heart of the verse. We are not made strong so that we can do whatever we want. This verse states that Christ gives us the strength to remain content and faithful no matter what circumstances, good or bad, we are facing. If we have plenty, Christ supplies the strength to stay humble and appreciative; if we are in want, Christ supplies the strength to endure and trust that He will provide. In other words, in 'all things' Christ gives us the strength to remain in Him.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Platinum Rule
I was in a training for my job recently wherein we were going over a recent personality profile we had taken. I typically enjoy these exercises because they help me understand more about who I am and how I communicate with my co-workers and vise versa. This training was no different in that regard, and I did learn some new things about myself and how I come across to those with whom I work.
However, right at the beginning of the training, the following statement was made (pulled from the work of Dr. Tony Alessandra, which can be found here):
However, right at the beginning of the training, the following statement was made (pulled from the work of Dr. Tony Alessandra, which can be found here):
We have all heard about the Golden Rule - and many people aspire to live by it. The Golden Rule is not a panacea. Think about it: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' The Golden Rule implies the basic assumption that other people would like to be treated the way that you like to be treated. The alternative to the Golden Rule is the Platinum Rule: 'Treat others the way they want to be treated.' A-ha! What a difference. The Platinum Rule accommodates the feelings of others.
Here's my question: When did we get smarter than God?
Allow me to clarify. This is something we really like to do. We like to take age-old adages, pithy sayings and colloquialisms and adapt them in such a way as to pack a new punch. "Practice makes perfect" becomes "Perfect practice makes perfect." Motivational speakers make a living on turning a phrase and making it stick. What could be easier than taking a saying we already know and swapping out a word?
By and large, these kinds of adaptations are harmless. But when a biblical principle turned cultural mandate gets then adapted to suit a new cultural mandate, thus making light of the original biblical intent, we tread in dangerous waters. There is a special kind of pride involved when one says, "Yes, that's in the Bible, but I think it should have been said this way instead."
Therefore, let us examine ourselves before we go and make 'improvements' on that which the Lord stated to be of utmost importance in the life of the believer. Further, let us examine the claims of those who are attempting to do just that. Let's look at the Golden Rule in its biblical context and determine if the Platinum Rule is, in fact, redundant and therefore useless.
Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments. It is from here that Jesus sums up the law by stating that the two great commandments are to love the Lord and love your neighbor. Essentially, the former is the sum of the first four commandments while the latter sums the final six. Therefore, when considering what it means to 'love your neighbor', consider commandments 5-10 (respect your parents, don't kill/commit adultery/steal/lie/covet).
Leviticus 19:9-18
This is where the Golden Rule makes its first appearance as we know it. It comes at the end of the Lord describing how to treat your neighbor, including how to be generous, deal honestly, be fair and kind, and be courteous toward him. The passage concludes with "you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." Those last four words need to be taken seriously.
Matthew 5:43-48
In the greatest sermon ever preached (the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus adapts the command from Leviticus to include both neighbors (those with whom we have good relationships) and enemies. First, since Jesus was Emmanuel, God with us, He gets to make that call. Second, that means one's neighbor is both friend and enemy. Love goes out to all, and the grounding for that is found in God's common grace for both the believer and the unbeliever. It is a matter of holiness, according to Jesus.
Matthew 22:34-40
Jesus is asked directly which are the greatest commandments. He says, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." He then states that everything in the law hinges upon these two commands. Get this in your mind: If either of these falls apart, the whole law falls apart.
Luke 10:25-37
In an expanded edition of the above story, Luke relates how the person who asked Jesus about the greatest commandments tries to get cute, asking Jesus "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus goes on the relate the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the end, even the self-righteous man had to admit that the person who showed mercy to the man on the road was the one who acted neighborly. Again, both friends and enemies are worthy to be considered as 'neighbors' and thus to be loved by those who claim to be in Christ.
For further reference, see also Matthew 19:19, Mark 12:31, Romans 13:9, Galatians 5:14, and James 2:8.
Let us now return to the original statement, the so-called Platinum Rule. Is it really a superior statement than what we have dubbed the Golden Rule? Culturally speaking, it must be admitted that the Golden Rule has been watered down. It does not carry the weight it was intended to carry based on what is plain in Scripture. Nonetheless, the original purpose of the Golden Rule, loving your neighbor, carries with it your neighbor's best interests at heart. At issue is the adaptation of biblical truths for the sake of creating that which is catchy and memorable. We simply do not have that right.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
An Expanded Free Write from Christen
This post is adapted from a 'free write' that Christen did in the middle of November. She would sometimes do this when working through some writer's block. She would just sit for a given amount of time and write whatever came into her head. Sometimes it led to a new post, other times it just freed up her thinking for future posts. I took the portion below, and I'd like to take the liberty to expand on it, perhaps completing the thought she'd started based on what I know of where she was at the time.
Joe and I have been fasting for many days now. 18 to be exact. I haven't felt super spiritual or had any major revelations, but I do feel a heightened sense of awareness of my sin and of my shortcomings/foolishness. I'm praying, but I haven't felt a strong leading to ask for anything specific. Except for Jesus. I felt to ask for more Jesus. I don't even know what that means.
Christen and I fasted somewhat regularly, usually once early in the year (relatively short, maybe 3-5 days, taking various forms) and once in November (a Daniel fast lasting 21 days). Inevitably, when we fasted and prayed, I was praying for vision, direction, and wisdom pertaining to our family as well as what direction our ministry was to take. The Lord was faithful to meet me in these things, but I always felt more like Martha. Christen was like Mary. She would just sit at the Lord's feet and wait. And wait. And wait. She would just dwell in His presence, and she came away from our fasts not with definitive direction but with a better connection with and understanding of our great God. She inevitably came to the conclusion that what she really needed was more of Christ, a deeper relationship, more death to her sin and more abundance of life in Christ. My lesson, and something for you too, is this: When fasting and praying, first take time to assess where your relationship with Christ is before you decide that you need to fast 'for something'.
I've tried to do more things that interest me that are productive. Like rearranging the furniture. I really enjoy that. I used to not think that that was a helpful talent. Staging. However, I think of it like a shared appreciation for beauty and order.
God is the Creator. He is imaginative. He is colorful. He is complex. For a long time, Christen thought that her affinity for design, decor, fashion, and the like was 'useless'. She thought it served no purpose. Sure, we liked having a comfortable, 'home-y' home, but she felt like she should be able to funnel that energy into something more 'productive'. It was only after we talked it out and realized that creativity is part of who God is, and that we are created in His image (the imago Dei, for all the theologians in the house) did she fully embrace this part of how God had made her. I'll be honest, this will be one of the parts of her that will be the most missed. She was always making our home feel like home. As in, walk-in-the-door-take-a-deep-breath-and-relax home. If you're a 'creative' type, don't feel as though what you do is useless. You are created by a Creator who is creative. Embrace it.
Often I feel a strong tension between poverty theology and not. I honestly feel ashamed at times that we have a beautiful home and that we have nice things. I know that we are spoiled. I know that we have more material blessings than most people on the earth. At any rate, I try to accept the blessing that it is and not lose sight of the real blessing, Christ.
As Americans, and as Westerners in general, she has it right: we are 'spoiled'. We have much where so many others have little...or nothing. Poverty theology, boiled down to a one-point statement, holds that we should seek to literally rid ourselves of all material goods for the sake of others. Like many types of theology, there are elements of truth to this and yet many holes. For example, what happens when God, like a good Father, chooses to bless His children? I'm not talking Prosperity theology 'blessing'. I'm talking about God as a good Father giving His children good gifts, not because we have 'enough faith' but because He just likes to do it. If He does this, and we then turn around and toss it away because we feel guilty for having something, are we then rejecting the blessing of God? This is not an easy question to answer, and my intention is not to create a firestorm with this brief commentary. It is, however, meant to illustrate the dialogue that went on in our home from time to time. In the end, her conclusion was our conclusion - whatever the Lord brings our way, whether abundance or scarcity, Christ is our treasure. And this truth remains.
Joe and I have been fasting for many days now. 18 to be exact. I haven't felt super spiritual or had any major revelations, but I do feel a heightened sense of awareness of my sin and of my shortcomings/foolishness. I'm praying, but I haven't felt a strong leading to ask for anything specific. Except for Jesus. I felt to ask for more Jesus. I don't even know what that means.
Christen and I fasted somewhat regularly, usually once early in the year (relatively short, maybe 3-5 days, taking various forms) and once in November (a Daniel fast lasting 21 days). Inevitably, when we fasted and prayed, I was praying for vision, direction, and wisdom pertaining to our family as well as what direction our ministry was to take. The Lord was faithful to meet me in these things, but I always felt more like Martha. Christen was like Mary. She would just sit at the Lord's feet and wait. And wait. And wait. She would just dwell in His presence, and she came away from our fasts not with definitive direction but with a better connection with and understanding of our great God. She inevitably came to the conclusion that what she really needed was more of Christ, a deeper relationship, more death to her sin and more abundance of life in Christ. My lesson, and something for you too, is this: When fasting and praying, first take time to assess where your relationship with Christ is before you decide that you need to fast 'for something'.
I've tried to do more things that interest me that are productive. Like rearranging the furniture. I really enjoy that. I used to not think that that was a helpful talent. Staging. However, I think of it like a shared appreciation for beauty and order.
God is the Creator. He is imaginative. He is colorful. He is complex. For a long time, Christen thought that her affinity for design, decor, fashion, and the like was 'useless'. She thought it served no purpose. Sure, we liked having a comfortable, 'home-y' home, but she felt like she should be able to funnel that energy into something more 'productive'. It was only after we talked it out and realized that creativity is part of who God is, and that we are created in His image (the imago Dei, for all the theologians in the house) did she fully embrace this part of how God had made her. I'll be honest, this will be one of the parts of her that will be the most missed. She was always making our home feel like home. As in, walk-in-the-door-take-a-deep-breath-and-relax home. If you're a 'creative' type, don't feel as though what you do is useless. You are created by a Creator who is creative. Embrace it.
Often I feel a strong tension between poverty theology and not. I honestly feel ashamed at times that we have a beautiful home and that we have nice things. I know that we are spoiled. I know that we have more material blessings than most people on the earth. At any rate, I try to accept the blessing that it is and not lose sight of the real blessing, Christ.
As Americans, and as Westerners in general, she has it right: we are 'spoiled'. We have much where so many others have little...or nothing. Poverty theology, boiled down to a one-point statement, holds that we should seek to literally rid ourselves of all material goods for the sake of others. Like many types of theology, there are elements of truth to this and yet many holes. For example, what happens when God, like a good Father, chooses to bless His children? I'm not talking Prosperity theology 'blessing'. I'm talking about God as a good Father giving His children good gifts, not because we have 'enough faith' but because He just likes to do it. If He does this, and we then turn around and toss it away because we feel guilty for having something, are we then rejecting the blessing of God? This is not an easy question to answer, and my intention is not to create a firestorm with this brief commentary. It is, however, meant to illustrate the dialogue that went on in our home from time to time. In the end, her conclusion was our conclusion - whatever the Lord brings our way, whether abundance or scarcity, Christ is our treasure. And this truth remains.
Monday, February 6, 2012
First Love
Revelation 2:4-5
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Luke 14:25-27
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Do you really love God more than anyone else?
I have had to ask myself that question a lot of late. I have sometimes had it pop up out of nowhere, a prompting from the Lord to examine myself perhaps. Other times I have had to deliberately ask it, like David opening himself up to the examination of the Lord ('search my heart, O God'). Either way, I can now never simply answer it out of hand. I must truly look in my heart, expose myself to the Lord, and reveal with whom my love dwells.
We have all been there, facing this question. A preacher or pastor will rhetorically ask the question, and the assumed answer is: Yes! Emphatically, we feel in our hearts that this is the answer. But what if we treat the question like a real question. Like a question that requires an deep answer. Not a simple answer, but one that we have thought through and meditated on, prayed over and asked God for help. We always talk about 'putting God first' and that He takes 'top priority', but is that practically, actually true?
My hope is that no one has to work out this question in the same way that I'm having to work it out. Nonetheless, I would be naive if I didn't believe some people will have to answer it in the midst of the most challenging of circumstances. My recommendation? Work this out now, know that you know where your priorities are, and when crisis strikes, as it will from time to time, you will be able to face it with truth rather than the hurricane of emotion that inevitably follows. Find verses that you cling to, the statements and promises from the Word that give you the clearest indication of who God is and who are you in Him. These are the truths that will sustain you in the hardest of times.
For me, the following have helped, and I offer them to you not as a one-size-fits-all solution but rather as an example of how one man has found solace through the Word:
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Psalm 16
Dwelling in joy
Psalm 18
The reaction of the Lord to an emergency need of one of His children
Psalm 23
He brings peace when one could feel surrounded by enemies
Philippians 2:1-11
The humility of Christ
Colossians 1:15-23
The preeminence of and reconciliation to Christ
This has been my constant refuge in this time. Certainly, I have had crisis moments. In those moments, however, I have asked and re-asked, "Do I love God more than anything or anyone else?" Yet I look to the Scriptures, and I see who God is, and I experience His nearness, and I realize that only He could provide such peace. And so I say, "Yes, Lord, I do love You more than anyone else."
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
Luke 14:25-27
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Do you really love God more than anyone else?
I have had to ask myself that question a lot of late. I have sometimes had it pop up out of nowhere, a prompting from the Lord to examine myself perhaps. Other times I have had to deliberately ask it, like David opening himself up to the examination of the Lord ('search my heart, O God'). Either way, I can now never simply answer it out of hand. I must truly look in my heart, expose myself to the Lord, and reveal with whom my love dwells.
We have all been there, facing this question. A preacher or pastor will rhetorically ask the question, and the assumed answer is: Yes! Emphatically, we feel in our hearts that this is the answer. But what if we treat the question like a real question. Like a question that requires an deep answer. Not a simple answer, but one that we have thought through and meditated on, prayed over and asked God for help. We always talk about 'putting God first' and that He takes 'top priority', but is that practically, actually true?
My hope is that no one has to work out this question in the same way that I'm having to work it out. Nonetheless, I would be naive if I didn't believe some people will have to answer it in the midst of the most challenging of circumstances. My recommendation? Work this out now, know that you know where your priorities are, and when crisis strikes, as it will from time to time, you will be able to face it with truth rather than the hurricane of emotion that inevitably follows. Find verses that you cling to, the statements and promises from the Word that give you the clearest indication of who God is and who are you in Him. These are the truths that will sustain you in the hardest of times.
For me, the following have helped, and I offer them to you not as a one-size-fits-all solution but rather as an example of how one man has found solace through the Word:
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Psalm 16
Dwelling in joy
Psalm 18
The reaction of the Lord to an emergency need of one of His children
Psalm 23
He brings peace when one could feel surrounded by enemies
Philippians 2:1-11
The humility of Christ
Colossians 1:15-23
The preeminence of and reconciliation to Christ
This has been my constant refuge in this time. Certainly, I have had crisis moments. In those moments, however, I have asked and re-asked, "Do I love God more than anything or anyone else?" Yet I look to the Scriptures, and I see who God is, and I experience His nearness, and I realize that only He could provide such peace. And so I say, "Yes, Lord, I do love You more than anyone else."
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fatherhood Fridays
It's official: I am now a statistic. And apparently I am a rare one at that. Here are some numbers and where I fit in them (pulled from http://www.singleparentcenter.net/single-parent-statistics.html ):
Number of single parents in the U.S.: 14 million
Number of children being raised by single parents: 21.6 million
Percentage of single mothers: 83.1%
Percentage of single fathers: 16.9%
Percentage of single fathers who are widowed: less than 1%
In doing the math, that means in a country with a population of over 311 million people, I fall into a category of less than 23,660 people, which is .0076% of the total population. I always knew I was a rare breed *insert rim shot here*.
Therefore, as I go on this journey, I am going to write a weekly post from my experience as a single, widowed father. I am calling it Fatherhood Fridays. Some of the stories shared will be fun and funny, others will be sweet, still others difficult. I will discuss both successes and failures and what can be learned from each. As with anything else I write, it is my prayer that these weekly posts will be helpful. Further, given the small sample size to which I will be writing, I hope the posts will be insightful to the general population, perhaps showing a perspective that is, by nature, underrepresented.
There you have it. Welcome to the first week of Fatherhood Fridays!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Yoke of Christ
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ~ Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
Every Christian knows this passage, especially the closing verse. Many non-Christians know it, for that matter. It is used in all manner of ways to attempt to explain what happens when someone sheds the 'weight of the world' and realizes that Jesus Christ is Lord over all.
There is, however, a key word that is often misunderstood in this passage. That word is 'easy'. 'For my yoke is easy,' it reads. Too often we hear the word 'easy' and we think it means 'simple' or 'doable'. "Oh, I can do that - it's easy." However, given that Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount just a few chapters prior to this (5-7), one cannot possibly come to the conclusion that Jesus is saying His yoke is 'simple'.
Therefore, since it is in the Bible, and since Jesus said it, we must understand what it means. Words are important. They matter so much to God that He has chosen to communicate most regularly with His people through a book (I stole that from John Piper). So, let's take a look at what 'easy' really means in the Bible.
The word 'easy' in this verse is the Greek word chrestos (pronounced khrase-tos' according to Strong's #5543). It is used in several places in the New Testament, but it is only translated as 'easy' in this verse. This begs the question: How is it translated in the rest of the New Testament? Primarily, it is translated as 'good', 'kind', or 'kindness'. We will look at each of these in turn.
*Important Study Note: When reading the Bible, it is critical to let the Bible interpret the Bible and not someone else first. When you run into a difficult passage, check out the cross-references so you can start grabbing onto the overall biblical context. In this case, this word is only translated this way in this passage. We must therefore look at how it is used elsewhere in the Bible in order to arrive at the best reading of this verse.*
Good:
There is, however, a key word that is often misunderstood in this passage. That word is 'easy'. 'For my yoke is easy,' it reads. Too often we hear the word 'easy' and we think it means 'simple' or 'doable'. "Oh, I can do that - it's easy." However, given that Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount just a few chapters prior to this (5-7), one cannot possibly come to the conclusion that Jesus is saying His yoke is 'simple'.
Therefore, since it is in the Bible, and since Jesus said it, we must understand what it means. Words are important. They matter so much to God that He has chosen to communicate most regularly with His people through a book (I stole that from John Piper). So, let's take a look at what 'easy' really means in the Bible.
The word 'easy' in this verse is the Greek word chrestos (pronounced khrase-tos' according to Strong's #5543). It is used in several places in the New Testament, but it is only translated as 'easy' in this verse. This begs the question: How is it translated in the rest of the New Testament? Primarily, it is translated as 'good', 'kind', or 'kindness'. We will look at each of these in turn.
*Important Study Note: When reading the Bible, it is critical to let the Bible interpret the Bible and not someone else first. When you run into a difficult passage, check out the cross-references so you can start grabbing onto the overall biblical context. In this case, this word is only translated this way in this passage. We must therefore look at how it is used elsewhere in the Bible in order to arrive at the best reading of this verse.*
Good:
- Luke 5:39 - Jesus is drawing the illustration of the wineskins, concluding with the statement, "No one says, 'The old is good.'"
- 1 Corinthians 15:33 - Paul is writing here about the resurrection of the dead 'on that day', essentially exhorting the recipients of the letter to live in light of eternity. In the midst of this he says, "Bad company corrupts good morals."
- 1 Peter 2:3 - Peter here is speaking about believers living in unity and experiencing God's presence in and through the Word. In referencing Psalm 34, Peter writes, "...if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good."
Kind/Kindness:
- Luke 6:35 - Jesus is making the point that His followers should love their enemies, and He makes the point that even God extends common grace to all by stating, "for He is kind to the ungrateful and the evil."
- Romans 2:4 - Paul is writing against believers casting judgment upon unbelievers. He writes, "Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
- Ephesians 4:32 - Paul here commends the Ephesians to put away their old selves and their old ways and instead put on Christ and His ways and thus live in unity. He writes, "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
What we see in the above passages, and what we will use to inform how we interpret the word 'easy' from Matthew 11:30, is that the word 'chrestos' is used to convey a characteristic of God, namely His kindness, and specifically His kindness in extending His people grace and mercy and forgiveness through Christ! Each passage points out that, in light of the gospel, believers should live markedly different lives than they did before being saved, and these new lives will look different than the world. We should live as though Christ actually did something for us and the Holy Spirit has truly made us alive and transformed, and we should stop living in hypocrisy, claiming Christ once or twice a week only to put back on our 'garment of heaviness' the rest of the week.
Therefore, putting this word to use in Matthew 11:30, where Christ calls His yoke 'easy' (chrestos), the implication is that we live a wholly new life in light of the gospel, one that is free of worldly cares, concerns, and burdens, and is instead full of grace and joy through Christ for ourselves, other believers, and even our enemies. It is 'easy' in the sense that it is Christ's yoke, and as such, we were never meant to carry it. He took care of that while He walked the earth, while He literally carried the yoke of the cross up Calvary and had the full burden of sin, mine and yours, placed upon Him. It is 'easy' because He has already done it.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Account Transfer
I considered not writing this post. It is a particularly difficult idea to write on, and it could be easily misunderstood. Further, I have been writing a week ahead for most of my posts. This gives me time to reread, edit, and let it marinate for a few days before it is posted. This, however, is a thought that came to me last night as I was praying and started writing on this morning. Thus, it is incomplete in many ways. In a sense, this is a pretty raw look at how I'm processing. I post it because I hope this transparency will encourage further transparency among the people of God across a variety of issues, situations, and circumstances.
I was recently speaking with someone about some next steps I am considering regarding my determination to see God glorified through this whole situation. She told me, rightly, to focus on loving God. Her advice was to then let the outflow of that love be what fuels my drive to see Him glorified. She was right. I mulled over her words the rest of that day and into the next. Monday night, I just sat on my bed (late at night, as usual) and began praying this over.
*Side note: my prayers have completely changed in the wake of Christen's passing. As I've written elsewhere and said frequently, I lost my conversation partner. My prayers now sound much more like I'm just having a conversation with God. Because I am.*
Stephen Covey, in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, writes about what he calls the 'emotional bank account'. Essentially, in any relationship, you make emotional deposits when you do something positive for someone close to you. It can be a kind word, a hug, a card, and the like. You make a withdrawal when you do something negative, like forgetting an appointment, saying an unkind word, etc. The idea, obviously, is to build up your emotional bank account with those close to you like you build your savings account. Sure, there will be the occasional withdrawal, but the deposits should far outweigh the withdrawals.
I realized that I had all this love stored up for Christen, but I now had nothing to do with it. Our emotional bank account was full since we had not withdrawn from one another in any significant way in a very long time. It is full but just sits there. There is no more accumulation.
As I sat on my bed, I prayed that the Lord would help me transfer this love into my relationship with Him. I am asking God to help me love Him more and to allow that abundance to overflow to my kids and then every other relationship.
I was recently speaking with someone about some next steps I am considering regarding my determination to see God glorified through this whole situation. She told me, rightly, to focus on loving God. Her advice was to then let the outflow of that love be what fuels my drive to see Him glorified. She was right. I mulled over her words the rest of that day and into the next. Monday night, I just sat on my bed (late at night, as usual) and began praying this over.
*Side note: my prayers have completely changed in the wake of Christen's passing. As I've written elsewhere and said frequently, I lost my conversation partner. My prayers now sound much more like I'm just having a conversation with God. Because I am.*
Stephen Covey, in his book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, writes about what he calls the 'emotional bank account'. Essentially, in any relationship, you make emotional deposits when you do something positive for someone close to you. It can be a kind word, a hug, a card, and the like. You make a withdrawal when you do something negative, like forgetting an appointment, saying an unkind word, etc. The idea, obviously, is to build up your emotional bank account with those close to you like you build your savings account. Sure, there will be the occasional withdrawal, but the deposits should far outweigh the withdrawals.
I realized that I had all this love stored up for Christen, but I now had nothing to do with it. Our emotional bank account was full since we had not withdrawn from one another in any significant way in a very long time. It is full but just sits there. There is no more accumulation.
As I sat on my bed, I prayed that the Lord would help me transfer this love into my relationship with Him. I am asking God to help me love Him more and to allow that abundance to overflow to my kids and then every other relationship.
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