Since at least 2 people read this blog, I guess you are due for some definitions:
Sisyphean-Laborious, endless, futile
Vilipend-To despise or disparage mockingly
Tregetour-Trickster or deceiver
Omphaloskepsis-a very rare word literally meaning 'navel-gazing'. Used by philosophers to refer to the sort of introspective self-analysis that ignores the real world.
Farrago-A confused mass of any disordered mixture.
(Caveat-this is what I think they mean, if indeed they are words at all. They are words to me-does that make them real words?)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
SUNDAY POST-SCRIPT
Some left-over random thoughts...
The disciple of Jesus is on a journey to experience a radical change at a level the law cannot reach. There is of course nothing wrong with the law, as it is as righteous as God Himself.
But the law cannot change the things inside us, which cause the cauldron of evil simmering in the heart to over-flow into actions. Things like duplicity, malice, guile, manipulation of people, the desire to get even, hostility and cultivated sexual lust. These are the things the law cannot address that are wrong in the heart of man.
The disciple in contrast to trying to keep the law learns of the good heart, the well-kept heart and the well-nourished soul.
The disciple is with Jesus learning how to be renovated at the deepest levels of who they are-the cause of the actions the law can only proscribe but not control. The disciple finds actions being produced they can no more explain than the miraculous catch of fish Peter encountered.
The choice of discipleship is the choice of freedom and fulfillment no law, no rule, no religion can provide. One really needs to decide if they have some better way and something better to do with the rest of their life?
I addressed briefly the issue of Peter’s lack of faith in this endeavor of launching into the deep and putting down the nets. Part of this difficulty of belief is the tension between the visible and the invisible. We belong to an invisible Kingdom not of this world, worshipping a God who is invisible because He is Spirit. One of the ways the enemy defeats us is by instilling guilt in us for not believing. Don’t feel guilty because you have a hard time believing. That doesn’t accomplish anything but to get us into more guilt.
The enemy says, “You worm, you should have believed, what kind of person are you anyway?” And the answer to that is, “I’m not much, just a sinful man, who gets His acceptance from the One who has said, ‘I did not come into the world to condemn the world…’”
May you truthfully address the question;
Have I ever decided to be a disciple of Jesus?
The disciple of Jesus is on a journey to experience a radical change at a level the law cannot reach. There is of course nothing wrong with the law, as it is as righteous as God Himself.
But the law cannot change the things inside us, which cause the cauldron of evil simmering in the heart to over-flow into actions. Things like duplicity, malice, guile, manipulation of people, the desire to get even, hostility and cultivated sexual lust. These are the things the law cannot address that are wrong in the heart of man.
The disciple in contrast to trying to keep the law learns of the good heart, the well-kept heart and the well-nourished soul.
The disciple is with Jesus learning how to be renovated at the deepest levels of who they are-the cause of the actions the law can only proscribe but not control. The disciple finds actions being produced they can no more explain than the miraculous catch of fish Peter encountered.
The choice of discipleship is the choice of freedom and fulfillment no law, no rule, no religion can provide. One really needs to decide if they have some better way and something better to do with the rest of their life?
I addressed briefly the issue of Peter’s lack of faith in this endeavor of launching into the deep and putting down the nets. Part of this difficulty of belief is the tension between the visible and the invisible. We belong to an invisible Kingdom not of this world, worshipping a God who is invisible because He is Spirit. One of the ways the enemy defeats us is by instilling guilt in us for not believing. Don’t feel guilty because you have a hard time believing. That doesn’t accomplish anything but to get us into more guilt.
The enemy says, “You worm, you should have believed, what kind of person are you anyway?” And the answer to that is, “I’m not much, just a sinful man, who gets His acceptance from the One who has said, ‘I did not come into the world to condemn the world…’”
May you truthfully address the question;
Have I ever decided to be a disciple of Jesus?
Friday, March 20, 2009
FRIDAY NIGHT AT ECOLA
Since I am sure nobody even reads this-I will let you in on EXACTLY how I ‘feel’ when I have finished ‘teaching’ or as some euphemistically call it ‘giving a speech’, ‘preaching’, or fill in the blank. I have finished my duties at Ecola and on the basis of feelings…
· I vilipend myself as a pathetic excuse of Sisyphean thought.
· The idea that I could have a part in anything of eternal value is Omphaloskepsis.
· I am not sure I am capable of original thought. Everything borrowed, used or cast off. A veritable thrift store of stolen ideas and thought.
· I am filled with doubt. A tregetour,trickster and deceiver. My name may as well be 'Jacob'.
· I should go back to suing people for a living, making a lot more money and doing what I am trained to do.
· My mind a farrago of lamentation.
· Yet strangely in love with a God that would create in me a desire to glorify Him, praise Him and proclaim His name as great. One who could make me love Him could make others love Him as well, if they would but give Him a chance. A marvelous God I serve. A Trinitarian God of unique beauty and power and grace.
Thank You Donnelly Bible Church for hanging in there with me. I love you.
· I vilipend myself as a pathetic excuse of Sisyphean thought.
· The idea that I could have a part in anything of eternal value is Omphaloskepsis.
· I am not sure I am capable of original thought. Everything borrowed, used or cast off. A veritable thrift store of stolen ideas and thought.
· I am filled with doubt. A tregetour,trickster and deceiver. My name may as well be 'Jacob'.
· I should go back to suing people for a living, making a lot more money and doing what I am trained to do.
· My mind a farrago of lamentation.
· Yet strangely in love with a God that would create in me a desire to glorify Him, praise Him and proclaim His name as great. One who could make me love Him could make others love Him as well, if they would but give Him a chance. A marvelous God I serve. A Trinitarian God of unique beauty and power and grace.
Thank You Donnelly Bible Church for hanging in there with me. I love you.
THURSDAY AT ECOLA
Galatians reminds me...
• To spend some time thanking God for who I am and who He made me and to say, "God, you have done well by me".
• My redemption and the work of God in my life is based on His
promise, not on my performance. I was not the one who promised Him He would forgive my sins. I did not promise Him I would reign with Him for ever and ever. I did not promise Him that my needs would be met. He promised these things (and oh so many, many more) and He has to perform them. Like Abraham, what God promised, He is able also to perform.
• That Christ literally, not figuratively, dwells in me. 2:20.
• God is not my responsibility, I am His responsibility.
• That God has a plan for me in eternity, He has invested heavily in me and He likes me a lot.
• If I let Him, the character of Christ will be my character.
Being here reminds me...
• How much I miss being home and how very much I love the Church I serve.
• I am called to Donnelly Bible Church, not just to ministry.
• While, as an unlikely candidate as they come, I am still the “Light of the World”. Did God really know what He said?
• To spend some time thanking God for who I am and who He made me and to say, "God, you have done well by me".
• My redemption and the work of God in my life is based on His
promise, not on my performance. I was not the one who promised Him He would forgive my sins. I did not promise Him I would reign with Him for ever and ever. I did not promise Him that my needs would be met. He promised these things (and oh so many, many more) and He has to perform them. Like Abraham, what God promised, He is able also to perform.
• That Christ literally, not figuratively, dwells in me. 2:20.
• God is not my responsibility, I am His responsibility.
• That God has a plan for me in eternity, He has invested heavily in me and He likes me a lot.
• If I let Him, the character of Christ will be my character.
Being here reminds me...
• How much I miss being home and how very much I love the Church I serve.
• I am called to Donnelly Bible Church, not just to ministry.
• While, as an unlikely candidate as they come, I am still the “Light of the World”. Did God really know what He said?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
WEDNESDAY AT ECOLA
It is about now I start the panic (not worry mind you!!) as I have fully departed from my prepared syllabus and have more to say than I have time. Please pray that in the time left I will say what is most important.
Things I have learned in Galatians I thought I already knew…
• If everything I possessed in the world were taken from me would I still proclaim and find Jesus to be sufficient?
• Do I love those I am speaking to more then I love what I am saying to them?
• Do I really want to become the kind of person who loves others like I love myself? Could I really stand it?
• Am I quicker to judge others, react to others then I am to be concerned where they are coming from?
• I will not become like Christ if I do not intend to.
Things I have learned in Galatians I thought I already knew…
• If everything I possessed in the world were taken from me would I still proclaim and find Jesus to be sufficient?
• Do I love those I am speaking to more then I love what I am saying to them?
• Do I really want to become the kind of person who loves others like I love myself? Could I really stand it?
• Am I quicker to judge others, react to others then I am to be concerned where they are coming from?
• I will not become like Christ if I do not intend to.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
TUESDAY AT ECOLA
Thank you for your prayers as I head into my second day of teaching here. It is a refreshing time for me to revisit Galatians (a book we spent a year going through) and the exciting truths that it is Christ and Christ alone who redeemed us and it is Christ and Christ alone who will bring us to perfection.
Christ living in me, the staggering truth that I have the fullness of Christ. That the same Christ (the same Jesus who IS the smartest man who ever lived) who lived then in perfect flesh prepared and planned for Him by the Trinitarian God now lives in my redeemed flesh. Now I am a human vehicle of Divine Life. I am the light of the world.
Last night I challenged the students, as I have challenged you, to look in the mirror and say, ‘I am the light of the world.’ They chuckled...the ‘cringe factor’ at work. ‘Who me, you mean I am the light of the world?’ Yes, such is the complete redemption and authority of the Christ we serve who now indwells us. All that He demands of us He will be in us. ALL that He is, He is in us.
So much better than living a life trying not to do anything wrong-or conforming to a list of rules, especially the man made variety, He is making me into the kind of person who is simply prepared to do always what is right.
Isn’t true salvation breathtaking?
Christ living in me, the staggering truth that I have the fullness of Christ. That the same Christ (the same Jesus who IS the smartest man who ever lived) who lived then in perfect flesh prepared and planned for Him by the Trinitarian God now lives in my redeemed flesh. Now I am a human vehicle of Divine Life. I am the light of the world.
Last night I challenged the students, as I have challenged you, to look in the mirror and say, ‘I am the light of the world.’ They chuckled...the ‘cringe factor’ at work. ‘Who me, you mean I am the light of the world?’ Yes, such is the complete redemption and authority of the Christ we serve who now indwells us. All that He demands of us He will be in us. ALL that He is, He is in us.
So much better than living a life trying not to do anything wrong-or conforming to a list of rules, especially the man made variety, He is making me into the kind of person who is simply prepared to do always what is right.
Isn’t true salvation breathtaking?
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
I would like to respond to the questions and inquiries as to why I am not more overtly political. Of course, I assume that means why am I not quicker to express my agreement with a certain political viewpoint that just so happens might agree with the ones who raise the question. I doubt if I would find my friends quite so solicitous if I held contrary views.
Perhaps, but I doubt it. Yet, the question is appropriate.
Let me provide my top 3 reasons (winnowed from a list of 12):
1. Washington and what occurs there, along with the other centers of political power (all of the good and even the very best) cannot change hearts. Until hearts change, the world cannot change. I will choose to focus on WHO has given me life-and the ONE who is continually saving my life, changing my heart.
2. Building relationships is more important to me than building a barrier with someone having a different political point of view. In an open relationship I can share the real and only answer to the needs of humanity. Jesus as Messiah is the solution to the human problem. The solution to the human problem of sin, the solution to the race wars, market wars and economic challenges. HE STILL is the way, the truth and the life.
3. What happens on Wall Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and on Capitol Hill is not going to effect or affect God's Kingdom in anyway. 'The heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord and as the rivers of water He turns it anyway He desires' Proverbs 22:1 Paraphrase-The markets, congress, judiciary and executive branches do NOT control my future or my character. I believe Jesus was pretty smart and knew what He was talking about when He said to me-my advice to you is not to worry!!
So, when appropriate I will say without anger or condemnation, ‘No, it is not that way, it is this way’. The church is still to be the educator of our society and the conscience of the community. We do that primarily by being filled with Agape Love and loving each other in the same way He has loved us.
It is in this type of love we can speak with authority to the great cultural wars of the day and point them to the Messiah-and proclaim Him to be the only solution to the human problem. (Oh and by the way-He is neither American, Republican nor Democrat. He is the King of the Kings of the Earth. Revelations 1:5.) That is where I stand before my Lord.
Perhaps, but I doubt it. Yet, the question is appropriate.
Let me provide my top 3 reasons (winnowed from a list of 12):
1. Washington and what occurs there, along with the other centers of political power (all of the good and even the very best) cannot change hearts. Until hearts change, the world cannot change. I will choose to focus on WHO has given me life-and the ONE who is continually saving my life, changing my heart.
2. Building relationships is more important to me than building a barrier with someone having a different political point of view. In an open relationship I can share the real and only answer to the needs of humanity. Jesus as Messiah is the solution to the human problem. The solution to the human problem of sin, the solution to the race wars, market wars and economic challenges. HE STILL is the way, the truth and the life.
3. What happens on Wall Street, Pennsylvania Avenue and on Capitol Hill is not going to effect or affect God's Kingdom in anyway. 'The heart of the King is in the hands of the Lord and as the rivers of water He turns it anyway He desires' Proverbs 22:1 Paraphrase-The markets, congress, judiciary and executive branches do NOT control my future or my character. I believe Jesus was pretty smart and knew what He was talking about when He said to me-my advice to you is not to worry!!
So, when appropriate I will say without anger or condemnation, ‘No, it is not that way, it is this way’. The church is still to be the educator of our society and the conscience of the community. We do that primarily by being filled with Agape Love and loving each other in the same way He has loved us.
It is in this type of love we can speak with authority to the great cultural wars of the day and point them to the Messiah-and proclaim Him to be the only solution to the human problem. (Oh and by the way-He is neither American, Republican nor Democrat. He is the King of the Kings of the Earth. Revelations 1:5.) That is where I stand before my Lord.
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