A radio host played Lennon’s classic song “Imagine” this morning. When it finished he went on and on about how great a song it was and how great a person Lennon was.
What is wrong with a person’s world view when he rhapsodises about a wife beating drug addict who can only imagine peace because he is incapable of living it?
And just how stoned do you have to be to believe, to REALLY BELIEVE that you can bring about world peace by refusing to get out of bed?
What a wretched state when people need drugs coursing through their veins in order to feel love toward other human beings.
When asked for his opinion on “What is wrong with the world?” the brilliant G.K. Chesterton answered, “I am.” Would that John Lennon possessed such insight.
A lack of peace is not the fault of borders or religion or anything else outside of one’s own corrupted self-loving soul.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Goals - Who Needs Em?
I feel sad for those who don’t know Jesus as friend, and guide. I feel sorry because they are forced to chart a course for their own lives. If they are to be considered successful by others who are also adrift in the same sea of life, then they must, as it is known in the vernacular, “Set goals for themselves.” They must set financial goals, personal goals, retirement goals and business goals. Goals for the week and goals for the weekend. They gotta have goals for their children’s education, goals for their marriage and goals for the New Year. They gotta have short term goals and long term goals; goals for their body and goals for their mind. People without their Creator for a Pilot must plot a course and head for what they believe to be the safest port. And they must do this all on speculation.
Nevertheless, they gotta nail it down. Figure it out. Peer into the future and avoid mistakes. At all cost they must avoid mistakes. When they are young they call this journey an adventure. The exude pride and possess a noble sense of independence. By middle age however, they call it the wheel of rebirth and suffering or they identify with lines like, ‘Life is hard and then you die.’ The sad part of all this is, setting goals is NOT the way to personal success. Setting goals is simply a way of ignoring the fatigue cracks in the hull of the craft in which you are sailing.
Not so with Jesus. Followers of Jesus have no need of goals. All that we need is a willingness to follow Jesus where ever He leads. For example, followers of Jesus are given the strength and courage to be led into a marriage where disappointments are not something to run from. Instead, disappointments are something in which we are introduced to our true selves. If we are willing to do that, then we are also able to allow Jesus to make adjustments as needed. A willingness to follow Jesus brings the strength to become people of integrity and courage, compassion and grace.
Because of that, we can follow Jesus into both personal and financial loss. We can follow Jesus into the shadow of death. We can follow Jesus and trust in His promise that is found in Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
You see, all of us, Christian and non Christian, are going to face trials and hardships in life. All of us are going to suffer at some point in our journey, and for some, we’ll suffer all the way through our journey. The only real question is whether you will suffer with Jesus in your life or without Him. The beauty of being in an intimate relationship with Jesus is that, unlike not-yet believers, hardships are not something to be avoided. Most people spend so much time trying to squirm out of their difficulties that they never take part in the learning that is possible only within the context of difficulties. Because of that, they never learn that suffering need not be a barrier to peace. Because of Jesus, difficulties need not be something that destroys or disables our ability to reach the intended end to which Jesus is leading us.
Granted, even with Jesus, difficulties remain difficulties. Suffering remains suffering. Pain remains pain. Grief remains grief. However, with Jesus in one’s life, all these things activate the presence of our Creator. The presence of God’s Spirit, something that resides inside every follower of Jesus, creates a buffer to the amount of damage that disaster can bring. The degree of damage is limited to only that which can promote growth; it need never be enough to permanently cripple. The Holy Spirit creates in a believer courage to face the next test and the next one after that and so on and so on.
Rather than avoiding the tidal waves of life, with Jesus as my guide, I have been able to grab hold of His hand, and with eyes wide open I am able to wade into the midst of the pain and walk changed for the better out the other side. With Jesus as my counsellor, I am able to experience my weakness and failure as the harbinger of yet another level of spiritual victory. It is bracing and exciting - fantastically exciting. Life with Jesus is true adventure. His grace always, always, always outweighs the weight of life.
Do I experience this perfectly everyday? No. But I’m way better at it than I was yesterday. And because each ordeal increases my trust in my Saviour, I’ll be better at it tomorrow than I was today. I think that is why that verse in Isaiah does not say, ‘You will walk on the waters to the other side.’ Jesus knows that our lack of faith will cause us to sink. But I also know, and all believers know, that He will not allow us to drown. With each pass through the waters of affliction, our increasing faith causes us to rise a little bit higher, and to come out the other side a little bit drier. Praise the Lord that I am not the master of my fate, nor the captain of my soul.
Nevertheless, they gotta nail it down. Figure it out. Peer into the future and avoid mistakes. At all cost they must avoid mistakes. When they are young they call this journey an adventure. The exude pride and possess a noble sense of independence. By middle age however, they call it the wheel of rebirth and suffering or they identify with lines like, ‘Life is hard and then you die.’ The sad part of all this is, setting goals is NOT the way to personal success. Setting goals is simply a way of ignoring the fatigue cracks in the hull of the craft in which you are sailing.
Not so with Jesus. Followers of Jesus have no need of goals. All that we need is a willingness to follow Jesus where ever He leads. For example, followers of Jesus are given the strength and courage to be led into a marriage where disappointments are not something to run from. Instead, disappointments are something in which we are introduced to our true selves. If we are willing to do that, then we are also able to allow Jesus to make adjustments as needed. A willingness to follow Jesus brings the strength to become people of integrity and courage, compassion and grace.
Because of that, we can follow Jesus into both personal and financial loss. We can follow Jesus into the shadow of death. We can follow Jesus and trust in His promise that is found in Isaiah 43:2 - “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
You see, all of us, Christian and non Christian, are going to face trials and hardships in life. All of us are going to suffer at some point in our journey, and for some, we’ll suffer all the way through our journey. The only real question is whether you will suffer with Jesus in your life or without Him. The beauty of being in an intimate relationship with Jesus is that, unlike not-yet believers, hardships are not something to be avoided. Most people spend so much time trying to squirm out of their difficulties that they never take part in the learning that is possible only within the context of difficulties. Because of that, they never learn that suffering need not be a barrier to peace. Because of Jesus, difficulties need not be something that destroys or disables our ability to reach the intended end to which Jesus is leading us.
Granted, even with Jesus, difficulties remain difficulties. Suffering remains suffering. Pain remains pain. Grief remains grief. However, with Jesus in one’s life, all these things activate the presence of our Creator. The presence of God’s Spirit, something that resides inside every follower of Jesus, creates a buffer to the amount of damage that disaster can bring. The degree of damage is limited to only that which can promote growth; it need never be enough to permanently cripple. The Holy Spirit creates in a believer courage to face the next test and the next one after that and so on and so on.
Rather than avoiding the tidal waves of life, with Jesus as my guide, I have been able to grab hold of His hand, and with eyes wide open I am able to wade into the midst of the pain and walk changed for the better out the other side. With Jesus as my counsellor, I am able to experience my weakness and failure as the harbinger of yet another level of spiritual victory. It is bracing and exciting - fantastically exciting. Life with Jesus is true adventure. His grace always, always, always outweighs the weight of life.
Do I experience this perfectly everyday? No. But I’m way better at it than I was yesterday. And because each ordeal increases my trust in my Saviour, I’ll be better at it tomorrow than I was today. I think that is why that verse in Isaiah does not say, ‘You will walk on the waters to the other side.’ Jesus knows that our lack of faith will cause us to sink. But I also know, and all believers know, that He will not allow us to drown. With each pass through the waters of affliction, our increasing faith causes us to rise a little bit higher, and to come out the other side a little bit drier. Praise the Lord that I am not the master of my fate, nor the captain of my soul.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
God's Grace - Use It Or Lose It.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.
D. L. Moody tells the story of a teacher in the 1800's who attempted to teach his students about God’s Grace. The teacher took from his pocket a silver watch and offered it to the oldest boy in the class. “It’s yours if you will take it,” he said.
The boy, believing it a joke, and thinking that he would be laughed at if he held out his hand, smiled and sat still. In the same way, the teacher offered it to the next child, and to the next and the next until he came to the youngest child in the class. When the watch was offered to the young lad, he took it and put it into his pocket. All the class laughed at him.
“I am thankful, my boy,” said the teacher, “that you believe my word. The watch is yours.”
The rest of the class looked on in amazement and one of the them said, “Teacher, you don’t mean that the watch is his, do you?”
“Indeed it is,” replied the teacher.
“Oh, no!” groaned the boy. “If I had only known that, I would have taken it!”
So many people blame God for not allowing everyone go to heaven. Like this story however, God cannot give the gift of salvation to those who will not receive it.
D. L. Moody tells the story of a teacher in the 1800's who attempted to teach his students about God’s Grace. The teacher took from his pocket a silver watch and offered it to the oldest boy in the class. “It’s yours if you will take it,” he said.
The boy, believing it a joke, and thinking that he would be laughed at if he held out his hand, smiled and sat still. In the same way, the teacher offered it to the next child, and to the next and the next until he came to the youngest child in the class. When the watch was offered to the young lad, he took it and put it into his pocket. All the class laughed at him.
“I am thankful, my boy,” said the teacher, “that you believe my word. The watch is yours.”
The rest of the class looked on in amazement and one of the them said, “Teacher, you don’t mean that the watch is his, do you?”
“Indeed it is,” replied the teacher.
“Oh, no!” groaned the boy. “If I had only known that, I would have taken it!”
So many people blame God for not allowing everyone go to heaven. Like this story however, God cannot give the gift of salvation to those who will not receive it.
Friday, September 28, 2007
I believe in Sin, only Sin, and nothing but Sin
It’s often heard that terrorism springs from poverty - That AID’s springs from poverty - That violent crime springs from poverty - That loss of Hope springs from poverty.
Nothing could be further from the truth! Violence, hatred, despair and diseases like AID’s, etc. spring from a sick and sinful soul, from a soul that is separated from one's Creator. These plagues of violence and disease spring from nothing but sick and sinful souls that are separated from one's Creator.
To say otherwise is to think like an alcoholic who says things like, “I got drunk because I lost my job.” “I got drunk because my boyfriend left me.” “I got drunk because I won the lottery.” “I got drunk because my friends were drinking.” Any comment by an alcoholic that begins, “I got drunk because,” and doesn’t end in, “I’m and alcoholic,” is a lie to others and to self.
Any blame for corruption that doesn’t lay the blame solely in a corrupt and sinful soul is wishful thinking. We adhere to and grasp for this wishful thinking because we'd rather strive to eliminate poverty (good for all, but impossible to accomplish because of our corrupt and sinful souls) than accept the cure of a healed, forgiven and intimate relationship with Jesus (good for all, but desired by only a few).
Nothing could be further from the truth! Violence, hatred, despair and diseases like AID’s, etc. spring from a sick and sinful soul, from a soul that is separated from one's Creator. These plagues of violence and disease spring from nothing but sick and sinful souls that are separated from one's Creator.
To say otherwise is to think like an alcoholic who says things like, “I got drunk because I lost my job.” “I got drunk because my boyfriend left me.” “I got drunk because I won the lottery.” “I got drunk because my friends were drinking.” Any comment by an alcoholic that begins, “I got drunk because,” and doesn’t end in, “I’m and alcoholic,” is a lie to others and to self.
Any blame for corruption that doesn’t lay the blame solely in a corrupt and sinful soul is wishful thinking. We adhere to and grasp for this wishful thinking because we'd rather strive to eliminate poverty (good for all, but impossible to accomplish because of our corrupt and sinful souls) than accept the cure of a healed, forgiven and intimate relationship with Jesus (good for all, but desired by only a few).
God's Grace is "Free"
We have rubber because thousands of Natives in the Amazon died. This happened so that the ingredients for rubber could be taken from them and given to us.
We in North America live in wealth beyond imagination because thousands of Native Americans died. This happened so that their land could be taken from them and given to us.
Most of we who blog live with the freedom to express ourselves as we please. Millions of soldiers died so that we could have this freedom.
Disgusting barely describes the transfer of this power and wealth.
Horrific barely describes the subsequent abuses of this power and wealth
We can have forgiveness of our sins, freedom from guilt and possession of the Grace, Mercy and Love of God. We can spend eternity in the presence of our perfectly Holy Creator. This can happen because Jesus died in order to give these things to us.
. God Himself paid the price of salvation for us.
. God Himself was tortured to death on our behalf.
. God Himself did this so that He could give salvation to us “Free of charge.”
Amazing, Fantastic, Astonishing, Marvelous, Tremendous, Wonderful - Our language does not contain the words to describe the amazing Love of our Creator God.
We in North America live in wealth beyond imagination because thousands of Native Americans died. This happened so that their land could be taken from them and given to us.
Most of we who blog live with the freedom to express ourselves as we please. Millions of soldiers died so that we could have this freedom.
Disgusting barely describes the transfer of this power and wealth.
Horrific barely describes the subsequent abuses of this power and wealth
We can have forgiveness of our sins, freedom from guilt and possession of the Grace, Mercy and Love of God. We can spend eternity in the presence of our perfectly Holy Creator. This can happen because Jesus died in order to give these things to us.
. God Himself paid the price of salvation for us.
. God Himself was tortured to death on our behalf.
. God Himself did this so that He could give salvation to us “Free of charge.”
Amazing, Fantastic, Astonishing, Marvelous, Tremendous, Wonderful - Our language does not contain the words to describe the amazing Love of our Creator God.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thoughts on Christian Marriage
Colossians 3:2 - “Set your minds on the things above, not on things on earth.”
Just some thoughts on something that all of us need to be reminded about over and over and over in our Christian walk in marriage. The things that happen to us, the things that aggravate us, the events that take place in our relationships are nothing more than that; they are events. The event (for example one’s partner’s irresponsible behaviour or another partner’s hurtful comments) are not the most important thing to pay attention to. They feel like it, but they aren’t.
I’m not trying to downplay the significance of these or other events. I’m not saying that when one person does something disappointing or when the other person says something hurtful that it doesn’t matter. In fact, I’m saying that these events have more significance than they appear to have on the surface. I’m saying that the changes that these two “events” are meant to bring about in us are what’s important. Pretty confusing? Let me say it this way.
As Christians, we have a promise from God. I can tell you from 26 years of experience as a Christian and after 34 years of marriage that this is a promise that is 100% accurate. Here it is. “In all things [events], God will bring about something good in those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”(Romans 8:28). (Inclusion of “events” mine.)
That promise was made by God, to all of His followers. The behaviours or events that satan is using to try to destroy you, the things that satan is using to try to tear apart your marriage, the things that satan is using to try to create a broken and chaotic home for your children, God will use to bring about good, if you love Him.
But what is the good that God brings out of these things or these events? The answer is found in verse 29. “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son . . .”
If, instead of focussing on how we’ve been wronged by our spouse, we ask God to help us focus on, “What are You trying to teach me in this situation, Lord?” then God will be able to teach us and to change us. Why is that a good thing? It’s good for at least two reasons:
1) The more that I’m like Jesus, the less that I’ll be doing or saying things that hurt my spouse.
2) The more that I’m like Jesus, the less that I’ll retaliate in hurtful ways when I’m treated badly or with disrespect by my spouse.
This is good news for any Christian marriage. Whenever I do something that is not being as kind to Wendy as I could or should, it’s a reminder to me that I need to draw closer to Jesus. And when I listen to that reminder (and that’s hard to do in the heat of the moment) I begin to treat Wendy better. That’s because Jesus’ Spirit in me causes me to do that. On my own, I’m not that nice. When I let Jesus work through me, I become nicer.
The Bible tells us that the Fruit of the Spirit, or the consequences of allowing God’s Spirit to work in us are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22). I want to have a character like that! I need to have a character like that for our marriage to be all that I want it to be. Only God can bring that about in me.
But why this lengthy process? I mean, God could heal us immediately if He wanted to. The reason that God takes us along a difficult path, the reason that God brings / allows difficult events and people to come into our lives is because that is how we become strong in our faith. These difficulties force us to continually depend on Him. Without increasing faith in God, we continually repeat old destructive behaviours. Only in Him do we find true life.
Just some thoughts on something that all of us need to be reminded about over and over and over in our Christian walk in marriage. The things that happen to us, the things that aggravate us, the events that take place in our relationships are nothing more than that; they are events. The event (for example one’s partner’s irresponsible behaviour or another partner’s hurtful comments) are not the most important thing to pay attention to. They feel like it, but they aren’t.
I’m not trying to downplay the significance of these or other events. I’m not saying that when one person does something disappointing or when the other person says something hurtful that it doesn’t matter. In fact, I’m saying that these events have more significance than they appear to have on the surface. I’m saying that the changes that these two “events” are meant to bring about in us are what’s important. Pretty confusing? Let me say it this way.
As Christians, we have a promise from God. I can tell you from 26 years of experience as a Christian and after 34 years of marriage that this is a promise that is 100% accurate. Here it is. “In all things [events], God will bring about something good in those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”(Romans 8:28). (Inclusion of “events” mine.)
That promise was made by God, to all of His followers. The behaviours or events that satan is using to try to destroy you, the things that satan is using to try to tear apart your marriage, the things that satan is using to try to create a broken and chaotic home for your children, God will use to bring about good, if you love Him.
But what is the good that God brings out of these things or these events? The answer is found in verse 29. “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son . . .”
If, instead of focussing on how we’ve been wronged by our spouse, we ask God to help us focus on, “What are You trying to teach me in this situation, Lord?” then God will be able to teach us and to change us. Why is that a good thing? It’s good for at least two reasons:
1) The more that I’m like Jesus, the less that I’ll be doing or saying things that hurt my spouse.
2) The more that I’m like Jesus, the less that I’ll retaliate in hurtful ways when I’m treated badly or with disrespect by my spouse.
This is good news for any Christian marriage. Whenever I do something that is not being as kind to Wendy as I could or should, it’s a reminder to me that I need to draw closer to Jesus. And when I listen to that reminder (and that’s hard to do in the heat of the moment) I begin to treat Wendy better. That’s because Jesus’ Spirit in me causes me to do that. On my own, I’m not that nice. When I let Jesus work through me, I become nicer.
The Bible tells us that the Fruit of the Spirit, or the consequences of allowing God’s Spirit to work in us are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control (Galatians 5:22). I want to have a character like that! I need to have a character like that for our marriage to be all that I want it to be. Only God can bring that about in me.
But why this lengthy process? I mean, God could heal us immediately if He wanted to. The reason that God takes us along a difficult path, the reason that God brings / allows difficult events and people to come into our lives is because that is how we become strong in our faith. These difficulties force us to continually depend on Him. Without increasing faith in God, we continually repeat old destructive behaviours. Only in Him do we find true life.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Your Future Is In Your Hands
“Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7
“They sow the wind and reap a whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7
Farming has come a long, long way from how it was done in first century Palestine. Genetically modified seed, machines that place the seed precisely in the soil, testing that puts the right amount of nutrients into the soil, monitoring weather reports and crop forecasts from around the world - all of these things and more go into deciding the type of seed to plant and projecting the potential quantity of harvest.
Can you imagine stopping a farmer on her/his tractor and asking, “So what are you seeding there?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Well, what about the quality? Is it good seed?”
“Sorry. I don’t know that either.”
“Well, is there any market for the type of crop that you’re seeding?”
“Gosh, I don’t know that. I just go out and seed some stuff and then wait to see what happens.”
Most people would have little problem predicting that this person’s future in agriculture was grim.
But what about the person who goes through life with little or no thought for eternity? What about the person who spends little or no time thinking about whether these thoughts or those actions will reap anything positive, not just for this lifetime, but for eternity?
Some people spend their entire lives working to gain all that this world has to offer. Relationships, wealth, power, position - these things seem all important to some people. They never give two thoughts to whether their beliefs, thoughts and actions might have an affect on where they will spend eternity. Jesus calls such person a fool.
As an alternative, Jesus announces that everyone and anyone, no matter what the current condition of their lives, can come to Him and receive forgiveness of their sin, freedom from real guilt and a guarantee of eternal life in Heaven.
What are you sowing for eternity?
Do you know?
Are you rejecting what Jesus has to offer? Or will you allow yourself to bask in the warmth and grace and mercy of God’s love? I can tell you from experience that a life with Jesus is a life worth having.
“They sow the wind and reap a whirlwind.” Hosea 8:7
Farming has come a long, long way from how it was done in first century Palestine. Genetically modified seed, machines that place the seed precisely in the soil, testing that puts the right amount of nutrients into the soil, monitoring weather reports and crop forecasts from around the world - all of these things and more go into deciding the type of seed to plant and projecting the potential quantity of harvest.
Can you imagine stopping a farmer on her/his tractor and asking, “So what are you seeding there?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? Well, what about the quality? Is it good seed?”
“Sorry. I don’t know that either.”
“Well, is there any market for the type of crop that you’re seeding?”
“Gosh, I don’t know that. I just go out and seed some stuff and then wait to see what happens.”
Most people would have little problem predicting that this person’s future in agriculture was grim.
But what about the person who goes through life with little or no thought for eternity? What about the person who spends little or no time thinking about whether these thoughts or those actions will reap anything positive, not just for this lifetime, but for eternity?
Some people spend their entire lives working to gain all that this world has to offer. Relationships, wealth, power, position - these things seem all important to some people. They never give two thoughts to whether their beliefs, thoughts and actions might have an affect on where they will spend eternity. Jesus calls such person a fool.
As an alternative, Jesus announces that everyone and anyone, no matter what the current condition of their lives, can come to Him and receive forgiveness of their sin, freedom from real guilt and a guarantee of eternal life in Heaven.
What are you sowing for eternity?
Do you know?
Are you rejecting what Jesus has to offer? Or will you allow yourself to bask in the warmth and grace and mercy of God’s love? I can tell you from experience that a life with Jesus is a life worth having.
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