has happened.
you can ask me.
kbai!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Reflection from Luke 3
We were just dust.
Settled.
Then you came.
Radiant. Like nothing we had encountered.
And you looked.
But when you looked, you didn't see just dust.
you saw us.
And in a fullness of hope you let out a satisfied sigh and we were caught up into your breeze,
surrounded by your brilliance.
Animated, set into motion, illuminated in a way we had never known,
in a way we could never have known if left to ourselves.
We couldn't help but abandon our complacency as the winds of your words enveloped us.
We couldn't help but come together into something intricate, something beautiful,
as you spoke your vision into us.
In your light, and with your vision we could see.
It was clear.
We were not just dust anymore.
We were you're reflection.
And it was good.
--------------------
But the newness...the goodness... faded into the familiar,
and our complacency returned.
Our excitement was in the transformation, not in any expectation of what we might become.
See, goodness wasn't enough, we hungered after intrigue.
We craved for a new thing.
And then someone made us a promise.
Someone said they had what you weren't giving us,
but that we could take it for ourselves.
What if we knew what you knew?
Could we do what you do?
What would it be not just to experience you, but to be like you?
A Thrill.
A transformation not just in form, but in nature.
And we could take it for ourselves?
But we couldn't take it for ourselves.
It wasn't that easy.
It was too much for us, you must have known.
We yearned to bring ourselves the best, when you were with us all along.
We couldn't see what we had.
So we traded you in.
We traded you for intimacy with a wretch.
We traded you for the embrace of a serpent.
--------------------
When we let you go, you let us go, too. You let us go back to the dust, back to settling.
It was you that had moved us. It was you that had stirred us. But you didn't make us stay.
You saw something beautiful,
and gave a glimpse of what we could be.
Together.
But it wasn't what we were looking for.
You weren't what we were looking for.
So we went back to the dust.
And settled.
--------------------
Time passed.
We longed for the things you once showed us,
things that had become distant memories.
But we were the ones that left.
What hope could there be for us?
None.
So we spent our years being devoured.
Swallowed up into a darkness like we had never encountered.
We were fed into the serpent and he was fattened by our cynicism;
nourished by our doubt;
sustained by our hopelessness.
And we never quite figured out when, but somewhere along the line we, again, ceased to be just dust.
We weren't just dust. And neither were we just his meal.
We not only sustained him, but his offspring as well.
We became a part of his children, their life, and their future.
We were integrated.
Inseparable.
We had begun a new transformation.
We were taking on the life of the serpent and of everything that he would birth.
In that womb, we became little snakes.
And in that darkness,
we grew.
We grew into the image of a serpent.
We took on the reflection, of a wretch.
--------------------
And here we are now. For so long, this womb is all we've known.
But our spirit remembers that day you put a taste of your hopes upon our lips.
And we still long for transformation, but this is not what we meant. This is not the change we desired.
What wouldn't we give to float freely with you again?
Just the thought of it makes our heart swell with longing and with hope.
So much that it hurts.
It hurts because this womb leaves no room to swell.
Only to be stifled and to be choked.
Hope has no home here.
But...maybe our home doesn't have to he here either.
--------------------
We have to get out. We have to run back.
We want more than dust, but not like this.
We want you to transform us again.
We're getting out.
But the only way out is...
--------------------
These fangs. All they know is destruction.
So we'll use them to destroy.
We'll use them to destroy the inner linings of this womb;
to sever the skin between us and you;
to tear through the fleshy center and to pull us through the open wounds.
We'll use these fangs...
to find our release.
--------------------
We're free...What?
Free.
Stuck, held back, restrained for so long.
But by...what?
That's all?
Such a thin layer between bondage and freedom?
Such a thin layer between being children of darkness and creatures surrounded by light?
We are free.
But in this light, it is clear:
We are still serpents.
Yes.
We are serpents.
But your light demands we remember:
You are still the one who spoke dust into man.
--------------------
Could we go back to that dust again?
These serpents want to be Children of Light.
These serpents want to be Men of Hope.
These serpents want to bear the Image of God.
Would you come near again?
--------------------
[Genesis 2. Genesis 3. Luke 15. John 8. Luke 3. Acts 16. John 1. Rev 21/22.]
Monday, August 9, 2010
Things about how I interact with God are so backwards sometimes. It's easy to say that I think faith in some shape or form action based on believing something that God said. It's equally easy to say that that by looking at my track record, that either
1)That's not what I actually believe.
or
2)That is what I believe the reality to be, I just don't care to live with faith.
Every model of faith and right relationship with God I can think of loosely follows
an interesting pattern, whether it be pre J's ministry, during J's ministry, or post J's ministry. It goes more or less like this:
1)The person lives their life for x amount of years as they see fit.
2)God says "Hey, do this instead."
3)The person does it, usually at high personal cost.
4)Somewhere down the line, after much random conflict, and confusion, plot twists, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, failures, and epic adventures, the person looks back and realizes God knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn't that random after all.
5)The passionately urges other people (younger generations, families, oppressors, peers, co-workers, whoever) to turn to, and be faithful to God.
#1-3 intrigue me the most. This is where I realize how backwards I am with God most days. In all of our biblical examples, people have to trust God based on the fact that he's God and maybe God should be trustworthy in order to experience first hand that he is, indeed, trustworthy. They act out of trust, and let God prove that he his who he says and will do what he says. That tends to not be how I roll. I want to know all that stuff first before I put anything on the line. I want to start with the passion of #5 without having to start with #1-4 to get there. That's not how things work, it's not anywhere in scripture. The way we find that passion and conviction and trust in his word is BY putting things on the line, and watching him come through.
I've spent so much time waiting for God to prove himself before I'm willing to trust him. I demand again and again that he prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's faithful, abounding in provision, able to redeem, and full of love before I'll risk anything tangible at his Word. There are many days where whether I'd say it with my mouth or not, my life declares that his matchless display of all of these qualities on the cross are not convincing enough for me. There aren't really words for how not ok that is.
All that to say, I'm relearning that to:
Psalm 34:8a
"Taste and see that the LORD is good;"
means that if you actually want to see that He's good, you actually have to taste.
1)That's not what I actually believe.
or
2)That is what I believe the reality to be, I just don't care to live with faith.
Every model of faith and right relationship with God I can think of loosely follows
an interesting pattern, whether it be pre J's ministry, during J's ministry, or post J's ministry. It goes more or less like this:
1)The person lives their life for x amount of years as they see fit.
2)God says "Hey, do this instead."
3)The person does it, usually at high personal cost.
4)Somewhere down the line, after much random conflict, and confusion, plot twists, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, failures, and epic adventures, the person looks back and realizes God knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn't that random after all.
5)The passionately urges other people (younger generations, families, oppressors, peers, co-workers, whoever) to turn to, and be faithful to God.
#1-3 intrigue me the most. This is where I realize how backwards I am with God most days. In all of our biblical examples, people have to trust God based on the fact that he's God and maybe God should be trustworthy in order to experience first hand that he is, indeed, trustworthy. They act out of trust, and let God prove that he his who he says and will do what he says. That tends to not be how I roll. I want to know all that stuff first before I put anything on the line. I want to start with the passion of #5 without having to start with #1-4 to get there. That's not how things work, it's not anywhere in scripture. The way we find that passion and conviction and trust in his word is BY putting things on the line, and watching him come through.
I've spent so much time waiting for God to prove himself before I'm willing to trust him. I demand again and again that he prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's faithful, abounding in provision, able to redeem, and full of love before I'll risk anything tangible at his Word. There are many days where whether I'd say it with my mouth or not, my life declares that his matchless display of all of these qualities on the cross are not convincing enough for me. There aren't really words for how not ok that is.
All that to say, I'm relearning that to:
Psalm 34:8a
"Taste and see that the LORD is good;"
means that if you actually want to see that He's good, you actually have to taste.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
My brokenness (I must confess)
Darkens all my thoughts, and hides your hands.
But questions fade before your face,
And I’m content that I may never understand.
[All that I have are questions;
So much is veiled in mystery.
But you are yourself the answer—
The only answer that I need.]
Of what I spoke I did not know—
Of things too wonderful and high for me.
In ignorance I gave offense;
I had heard of you but now my eyes have seen.
Darkens all my thoughts, and hides your hands.
But questions fade before your face,
And I’m content that I may never understand.
[All that I have are questions;
So much is veiled in mystery.
But you are yourself the answer—
The only answer that I need.]
Of what I spoke I did not know—
Of things too wonderful and high for me.
In ignorance I gave offense;
I had heard of you but now my eyes have seen.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
7.13.10
"J, why can't I shake this?"
"Hey...remember? I've already bought you're freedom. It's there. But you have to want."
"Oh yeah. Yeah, that's right...I think I want it...Ok, yeah, I want it."
"It's yours. It always has been. I love you."
"Hey...remember? I've already bought you're freedom. It's there. But you have to want."
"Oh yeah. Yeah, that's right...I think I want it...Ok, yeah, I want it."
"It's yours. It always has been. I love you."
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Disclaimer for previous post.
I think we're very much responsible for calling people to repentance. But I think how that happens should look different with people that follow Jesus than it does with people that don't.
I think most of the implications for the post are for the context of a community following Jesus together. That's the context where it makes sense to speak directly about sin directly as an issue of disobedience, rebellion, or tangible trust and love for Jesus. Jesus is always the most direct, blunt, and harsh with the religious people; his approach is very different for people that don't know him or God.
With that crowd, he shows them a side of God they haven't seen before; a God that loves them, cares about who they are, looks on their plights with compassion. It's in light of this new notion of God that there comes a call to give up the sin. If we're even going to think about addressing the sin of someone that doesn't follow Jesus, it better be accompanied (and preceded) by interactions that are characterized by the preceding.
It's in the relationships where we have already claimed to understand, know, trust, and experience some of God's love for us but are still choosing to turn to our sin instead of Jesus we need to be willing to identify and call each other out of that sin. The majority of that post is meant primarily for the context of a community following Jesus.
I think we're very much responsible for calling people to repentance. But I think how that happens should look different with people that follow Jesus than it does with people that don't.
I think most of the implications for the post are for the context of a community following Jesus together. That's the context where it makes sense to speak directly about sin directly as an issue of disobedience, rebellion, or tangible trust and love for Jesus. Jesus is always the most direct, blunt, and harsh with the religious people; his approach is very different for people that don't know him or God.
With that crowd, he shows them a side of God they haven't seen before; a God that loves them, cares about who they are, looks on their plights with compassion. It's in light of this new notion of God that there comes a call to give up the sin. If we're even going to think about addressing the sin of someone that doesn't follow Jesus, it better be accompanied (and preceded) by interactions that are characterized by the preceding.
It's in the relationships where we have already claimed to understand, know, trust, and experience some of God's love for us but are still choosing to turn to our sin instead of Jesus we need to be willing to identify and call each other out of that sin. The majority of that post is meant primarily for the context of a community following Jesus.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
References this show called "Gone Too Far". The basic premise is that the host of the show is a recovering drug addict that used to do basically everything that has made significant steps toward being completely clean. He helps families of people who are currently addicted to drugs plan interventions and offers to provide rehab treatment should they be willing to take steps toward letting go of their addiction. Basically what this is, is an attempt to take what's going on in this episode with this girl, her addiction to meth, and how the different people in her life respond to it and compare it to us, our sin, and how we respond to each others sin as a community. In the comparison, meth will generally be paralleled with sin, Megan with someone struggling with some particular sin, and all other characters as various ways a community can respond that person. It'll make a hundred times more sense if you actually watch the episode first.
Here's the link, probably needa copy/paste it:
http://www.mtv.com/videos/gone-too-far-ep-7-megan/1627088/playlist.jhtml
======================
Part One: The Intro
======================
Implications:
1)Just because we have struggled or are struggling with something, doesn't disqualify us from speaking truth to each other about those same issues.
2)It's not on us to make someone start or stop doing something. It is on us to give them the opportunity.
3)Our experiences aren't just for us. Our freedom is for our community.
4)Just because a community is highly religious, doesn't mean it's free from things that are completely capable of warring against our bodies, souls, and relationships.
===================================================
Part Two: DJ Am Talks to Megan's Sister and Cousin
===================================================
Implications:
5)Our community probably has probably noticed much more than we realize.
6)Different patterns of sin can and do coexist, and probably aren't unrelated.
7)We need to believe that freedom is possible for each other. And verbalize it.
8)We need to realize that our sin is actually really a dire thing. Like...it's really bad. Like...it's not just an inconvenience.
========================================
Part 3: DJ Am Talks to Megan's Parents
========================================
Implications:
9)Choosing to sit in our sin might cost us something that could have been a huge blessing in our lives.
10)Even if that is the case, there's still hope.
11)Everyone else wanting it for us isn't enough. (Us wanting it for someone isn't enough)
=============================================
Part Four: DJ Am talks to Megan's Boyfriend
=============================================
Implications:
12)Don't help people do stupid stuff.
13)We need to be willing to call people out when they're helping people do stupid stuff.
14)Sometimes we can't sugarcoat reality away.
15)Sometimes its appropriate to have negative reactions to the way people we care about are choosing to live. Watching each other choose sin instead of Jesus shouldn't be something we're ok with.
===========================================================================
Part Five: DJ Am Gets A Doctors Opinion On Megan Doing Meth While Pregnant
===========================================================================
Implications:
16)Our sin doesn't only affect us.
17)It's still not too late.
18)We going to have to decide if we love Jesus more than we love our sin.
===============================
Part Six: DJ Am Talks to Megan
===============================
Implications:
19)Know that the most noticeable things usually aren't the deepest issues.
20)Sin is our choice. So is leaving it behind.
21)Our own failures can be incredibly relevant to people that are struggling.
22)Sin will make us settle.
23)We do stupid stuff to spite God but it just jacks us up.
24)We're quick to blame other things for our sin. It's our responsibility to confront that in each other directly.
25)Saying we're willing to leave our sin behind doesn't mean we're willing to leave it behind. Leaving it behind means we're willing to leave it behind. It's our responsibility to urge each other to actually commit to that.
26)We can't let each other be pansies. (what do you mean you can have it and not use it. no you can't)
27)We need to encourage each other to be honest about our sin and stop hiding in the shame.
28)We need to have compassion with each other in understanding that letting go of sin is scary. Trusting God is hard when it actually requires that you trust him.
29)Let us encourage each other as we let go of sin and cling to Jesus so that we can be a community of testimonies of a God that brings a freedom that we never thought possible.
================================================
Part Six: DJ Am Tells the Family She's Pregnant
================================================
Implications:
30)It's ok for us to be angry and hurt by people doing us wrong. But the next thing they do is set up the intervention and treatment, not figure out how to return the favor.
===============================================================
Part Seven: DJ Am Coaches the Family on Doing an Intervention
===============================================================
Implications:
31)Because we love each other, we have to be willing to confront each other.
32)In case you missed it...there's hope.
===================================
Part Eight: The Family Intervenes
==================================
Implications:
33)Our sin can make us deaf to kindness of the people that love us.
34)We need to be direct about the ugliness of each others sin.
35)Our sin can change us.
36)Confronting each other with the ways it hurts us to watch them embrace sin doesn't promise to be an easy or pleasant thing to do.
37)We have to know when to release people. They need to know its happening and why its happening.
38)We need to understand that when everything is said and done, the decision is still theirs to make.
=====================
Part Nine: Treatment
=====================
Implications:
39)When we choose to give up our sin, we need to be ready to battle the thought of it and refute the lies associated with it just as much if not moreso than the actual thing.
40)Know that the failures of our past don't have to repeat themselves. They don't have to determine our future.
41)Just because someone was absolutely essential to our own fight against something doesn't make them invincible. Let's have the gratefulness to be thankful and the graciousness to recognize that we aren't the only ones who struggle.
42)Our history of sin can make us question God's ability to fully redeem our circumstances.
================================
Part Ten: Megan's Baby Is Born
================================
Implications:
43)One last time, it's not too late. there's hope.
44)Let's recognize and be thankful that God sends people when we need it. Let's be willing to be the people that are sent.
====================================
Part 11: Recap
====================================
What if we behaved as though we thought that sin was as serious, as real, of an issue as a meth addiction? What if we experienced the depth of hurt, grief, and concern for our friends entrenched in sin as this family felt for their daughter/sister/cousin? What if we were less like her boyfriend that did whatever he could to convince himself that there was nothing he could do about it? What if we decided we loved enough to risk conflict? What if we valued each others relationships with God more than we valued keeping the peace?
Would we reject passivity in our relationships, accept responsibility for ourselves and each other, lead each closer to Jesus courageously, and expect to see God move amongst his people.
Amen.
Here's the link, probably needa copy/paste it:
http://www.mtv.com/videos/gone-too-far-ep-7-megan/1627088/playlist.jhtml
======================
Part One: The Intro
======================
Implications:
1)Just because we have struggled or are struggling with something, doesn't disqualify us from speaking truth to each other about those same issues.
2)It's not on us to make someone start or stop doing something. It is on us to give them the opportunity.
3)Our experiences aren't just for us. Our freedom is for our community.
4)Just because a community is highly religious, doesn't mean it's free from things that are completely capable of warring against our bodies, souls, and relationships.
===================================================
Part Two: DJ Am Talks to Megan's Sister and Cousin
===================================================
Implications:
5)Our community probably has probably noticed much more than we realize.
6)Different patterns of sin can and do coexist, and probably aren't unrelated.
7)We need to believe that freedom is possible for each other. And verbalize it.
8)We need to realize that our sin is actually really a dire thing. Like...it's really bad. Like...it's not just an inconvenience.
========================================
Part 3: DJ Am Talks to Megan's Parents
========================================
Implications:
9)Choosing to sit in our sin might cost us something that could have been a huge blessing in our lives.
10)Even if that is the case, there's still hope.
11)Everyone else wanting it for us isn't enough. (Us wanting it for someone isn't enough)
=============================================
Part Four: DJ Am talks to Megan's Boyfriend
=============================================
Implications:
12)Don't help people do stupid stuff.
13)We need to be willing to call people out when they're helping people do stupid stuff.
14)Sometimes we can't sugarcoat reality away.
15)Sometimes its appropriate to have negative reactions to the way people we care about are choosing to live. Watching each other choose sin instead of Jesus shouldn't be something we're ok with.
===========================================================================
Part Five: DJ Am Gets A Doctors Opinion On Megan Doing Meth While Pregnant
===========================================================================
Implications:
16)Our sin doesn't only affect us.
17)It's still not too late.
18)We going to have to decide if we love Jesus more than we love our sin.
===============================
Part Six: DJ Am Talks to Megan
===============================
Implications:
19)Know that the most noticeable things usually aren't the deepest issues.
20)Sin is our choice. So is leaving it behind.
21)Our own failures can be incredibly relevant to people that are struggling.
22)Sin will make us settle.
23)We do stupid stuff to spite God but it just jacks us up.
24)We're quick to blame other things for our sin. It's our responsibility to confront that in each other directly.
25)Saying we're willing to leave our sin behind doesn't mean we're willing to leave it behind. Leaving it behind means we're willing to leave it behind. It's our responsibility to urge each other to actually commit to that.
26)We can't let each other be pansies. (what do you mean you can have it and not use it. no you can't)
27)We need to encourage each other to be honest about our sin and stop hiding in the shame.
28)We need to have compassion with each other in understanding that letting go of sin is scary. Trusting God is hard when it actually requires that you trust him.
29)Let us encourage each other as we let go of sin and cling to Jesus so that we can be a community of testimonies of a God that brings a freedom that we never thought possible.
================================================
Part Six: DJ Am Tells the Family She's Pregnant
================================================
Implications:
30)It's ok for us to be angry and hurt by people doing us wrong. But the next thing they do is set up the intervention and treatment, not figure out how to return the favor.
===============================================================
Part Seven: DJ Am Coaches the Family on Doing an Intervention
===============================================================
Implications:
31)Because we love each other, we have to be willing to confront each other.
32)In case you missed it...there's hope.
===================================
Part Eight: The Family Intervenes
==================================
Implications:
33)Our sin can make us deaf to kindness of the people that love us.
34)We need to be direct about the ugliness of each others sin.
35)Our sin can change us.
36)Confronting each other with the ways it hurts us to watch them embrace sin doesn't promise to be an easy or pleasant thing to do.
37)We have to know when to release people. They need to know its happening and why its happening.
38)We need to understand that when everything is said and done, the decision is still theirs to make.
=====================
Part Nine: Treatment
=====================
Implications:
39)When we choose to give up our sin, we need to be ready to battle the thought of it and refute the lies associated with it just as much if not moreso than the actual thing.
40)Know that the failures of our past don't have to repeat themselves. They don't have to determine our future.
41)Just because someone was absolutely essential to our own fight against something doesn't make them invincible. Let's have the gratefulness to be thankful and the graciousness to recognize that we aren't the only ones who struggle.
42)Our history of sin can make us question God's ability to fully redeem our circumstances.
================================
Part Ten: Megan's Baby Is Born
================================
Implications:
43)One last time, it's not too late. there's hope.
44)Let's recognize and be thankful that God sends people when we need it. Let's be willing to be the people that are sent.
====================================
Part 11: Recap
====================================
What if we behaved as though we thought that sin was as serious, as real, of an issue as a meth addiction? What if we experienced the depth of hurt, grief, and concern for our friends entrenched in sin as this family felt for their daughter/sister/cousin? What if we were less like her boyfriend that did whatever he could to convince himself that there was nothing he could do about it? What if we decided we loved enough to risk conflict? What if we valued each others relationships with God more than we valued keeping the peace?
Would we reject passivity in our relationships, accept responsibility for ourselves and each other, lead each closer to Jesus courageously, and expect to see God move amongst his people.
Amen.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Perspective.
The Setup (Context).
The Hebrews are enslaved in Egypt. They start growing. The King of Egypt gets scared and treats them worse to break spirits, demoralize, and prevent an uprising. Executes all the male children to prevent their further growth as a people. Baby Moses is cleverly hidden, saved, and then adopted into the King's family (ironic). He grows up with the privileges of royalty, but watching his people be oppressed. He sees an overseer beating a Hebrew and kills the overseer. He gets found out. He flees to another country. he adopts a new culture and a new lifestyle as a shepherd. The King of Egypt dies. The people groan in their slavery. God takes notice. God does the fireproof bush trick. Moses sees it and approaches. Then:
God Speaks (The Paradox).
Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their slave drivers, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
Observations (Abridged)
1. God is aware of the affliction of the people.
2. He gives heed to their cries.
3. He says He has come to deliver them.
4. His only action in addressing the situation is sending Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.
Question (Pointed).
How is God sending Moses to bring the people out of Egypt the same thing as God coming down to deliver them?
Interpretation (Epic)
God calling Moses to lead people was His answer to the Hebrews prayer. Sure, Moses had a role in the decision, and of course it affected him. But the heart of his call into leadership wasn't about him. It was about God understanding and giving ear to the prayers on the hearts of people, and sending an answer, in the form of Moses. What happens if Moses refused that call and hadn't gone back to the people? An entire, growing but oppressed nation may well have remained in that very real, physical bondage.
The Point (Humbling)
There's things and places I'm being sent to. What does it look like to treat those things like I believe that God sending me there is his response to someones prayer for freedom? If I don't take up the call, who am I leaving in their bondage?
The Hebrews are enslaved in Egypt. They start growing. The King of Egypt gets scared and treats them worse to break spirits, demoralize, and prevent an uprising. Executes all the male children to prevent their further growth as a people. Baby Moses is cleverly hidden, saved, and then adopted into the King's family (ironic). He grows up with the privileges of royalty, but watching his people be oppressed. He sees an overseer beating a Hebrew and kills the overseer. He gets found out. He flees to another country. he adopts a new culture and a new lifestyle as a shepherd. The King of Egypt dies. The people groan in their slavery. God takes notice. God does the fireproof bush trick. Moses sees it and approaches. Then:
God Speaks (The Paradox).
Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their slave drivers, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
Observations (Abridged)
1. God is aware of the affliction of the people.
2. He gives heed to their cries.
3. He says He has come to deliver them.
4. His only action in addressing the situation is sending Moses to lead the people out of Egypt.
Question (Pointed).
How is God sending Moses to bring the people out of Egypt the same thing as God coming down to deliver them?
Interpretation (Epic)
God calling Moses to lead people was His answer to the Hebrews prayer. Sure, Moses had a role in the decision, and of course it affected him. But the heart of his call into leadership wasn't about him. It was about God understanding and giving ear to the prayers on the hearts of people, and sending an answer, in the form of Moses. What happens if Moses refused that call and hadn't gone back to the people? An entire, growing but oppressed nation may well have remained in that very real, physical bondage.
The Point (Humbling)
There's things and places I'm being sent to. What does it look like to treat those things like I believe that God sending me there is his response to someones prayer for freedom? If I don't take up the call, who am I leaving in their bondage?
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Question.
Quotes from a book more or less about the underground church in Romania during the rule of communism.
There's alotta quotes there...like...alot. But these ones made it through like 3 cuts. take the time to read them.
Tortured for Christ.
-Richard Wurmbrand.
The language of love an the language of seduction are the same. The one who wishes a girl for a wife and the one who wishes her only for a night both say the words "I love you."
One after one bishops and pastors arose and declared that communism and Christianity were fundamentally the same and could co-exist. My wife and I were present at this congress. She said to me "Stand up and wash away this shame from the face of Christ! They're spitting in his face." I said to her, "If i do o, you will lose your husband." She replied, "I don't wish to have a coward as a husband."
When he heard of Jesus resurrection, he jumped for joy and swore, using very dirty profanity. He had not yet learned out "holy phrases" but he truly loved the lord with his whole heart.
When Christians in free countries win a soul for Christ, the new believer may become a member of a quietly living church. But when those in captive nations win somebody, we know that he may have to go to prison and that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought someone to Christ is always mixed with the feeling of knowing that there is a price to be paid.
After he spent an hour giving me all the arguments against the existence of God, I asked him, "Sir, tell me, if there is no God, why is it that you pray when you're in trouble?" In shock, he asked, "How did you know that I pray?" Just as there are many that claim Jesus but are not Christians, there are many who claim Atheism but are not really atheists.
Every soul won for Christ must be made to be a soul-winner. Not only a convert, but a missionary. Many of the Russians were not only converted but were reckless and daring in sharing Christ, saying it was the least they could do for the one that died for them.
The secret police greatly persecuted the underground church because they recognized that if a man believed in Christ, he would never be a mindless, willing subject.
Never imagine a prison as in the West when you hear about a sentenced brother in a restricted nation. Prison there means starvation, torture, and brainwashing.
For being Christians:
"these are only a handful of what happened. other things cannot be told. my heart would fail to have to recount them."
1. tortured with hot knives and iron pokers.
2. forced to stand for two weeks.
3. his 14 year old son was beaten in front of him. About to give in, his son replies, "don't do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent. Withstand." He did. His son was beaten to death in front of him.
4. Handcuffs with nails were used. When they shivered from the cold, the nails would tear the flesh.
5. hung upside down and beaten.
6. frozen in ice-rooms until the point of death. then removed and thawed. then frozen again.
7. forced to stand in wooden coffins for hours on end. nails driven through the wood, reminding them everytime they slouched, twitched, or were met with fatigue.
8. men were tied to crosses and placed on the floor. All the other prisoners were forced to relieve themselves on the faces of those tied to the crosses. the crosses were then erected and mocked. "Look at your Christ, how beautiful he is, how fragrant is the incense he brings from heaven!"
9. a priest was forced to consecrate feces and urine and give it as communion.
10. beat on the bottom of the feet.
11. beat on the testicles.
12. fingernails torn out.
The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. when a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human, no restraint from the depth of evil that is in man. I heard one torturer say "I thank God, in whom I don't believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart." He expressed it in unbelievable brutality and torture on Christian prisoners.
Communism had destroyed any moral sense in them. They often boasted that they had no pity in their hearts. I learned from them. As they allowed no place for Jesus in their hearts, I decided I would leave not the smallest place for Satan in mine.
For seventeen hours a day we heard "communism is good. Christianity is stupid. Give up." Several Christians have asked how we could resist brainwashing. There is only one method of resistance to brainwashing: heartwashing. If the heart is cleansed by the love of Jesus, and if the heart loves him, one can resist all tortures.
It was forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that if you were caught doing this you received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price, we accepted their terms and made a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us. Everyone was happy.
One of the leaders of the torture often said to Christians, "You know, I am God. I have the power of life and death over you. The one who is in heaven cannot decide to keep you in life. Everything depends upon me. If I wish, you life. If I wish, you die. I am God." One of the men gave him this answer, "You don't know what a deep think you have said. You have been created to become like God, with the life of God in your heart. Jesus said to the Jews of his time, 'ye are gods.' Believe me, your real calling is to be Godlike - to have the character of God, not a torturer." Though this man paid no mind at the time, he later came to Christ.
When one Christian was sentenced to death, he was allowed to see his wife before being executed. his last words to her were, "You must know that I die loving those who kill me. They don't know what they do and my last request of you is to love them too. Don't have bitterness in your heat because they killed your beloved one." These words impressed the officer who attended the discussion between the two. He told me the story in prison where he had been sent for becoming a Christian.
If a poor man is a great lover of music, he gives his last dollar to listen to a concert. He is then without money, but he does not feel furstrated. He has heard beautiful things. I don't feel frustrated to have lost many years in prison, for I have seen beautiful things.
A brother entered prison on account of his work in the Underground Church. He left behind a wife with six children. His older daughters of seventeen and nineteen could not get a job. The only one that gives jobs in a Communist country is the state, and it does not give jobs to children of criminal Christians. Please don't judge this story according to moral standards; just receive the facts. The two daughters of a Christian martyr - Christians themselves - became prostitutes to support their younger brothers and sick mother. Their younger brother of fourteen became insane when he saw it and had to be put in an asylum. When years later the imprisoned father returned, his only prayer was, "God, take me to prison again. I cannot bear to see this." his prayer was answered ad he was jailed again for the crime of having witnessed for Christ. His daughters were no longer prostitutes, as they received jobs by complying with the demands of the secret police - they become informers. As daughters of a Christian Martyr, they are received with honor in every house. They listen and then they report everything they hear to the secret police. Don't just say that this is ugly and immoral - of course it is - but ask yourself if it is not also your sin that such tragedies occur, that such Christian families are left alone, and are not helped by you who are free.
Two christian organizations paid the communist government $10,000 for my freedom. I could now leave Romania. I would not have left Romania, despite the dangers, if the leaders of the underground church had not commanded me to use this opportunity to leave and be their voice in the free world. Upon my departure the government told me not to speak against them. They told me how easy it would be to have me killed, or kidnapped and brought back. They also told me they could invalidate my testimony by destroying me morally, spreading a story about me with a woman, theft, or some other sin; because it is well known that Westerners - especially Americans - are very easily deceived."
Friendship means one soul in two breasts.
I have seen Christians in communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with redhot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold -- and praying with fervor for the communists. This is humanly inexplicable. It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts.
As the grave insists on having all - rich and poor; young and old; men of all races, nations, and political convictions; saints and criminals - so love is all embracing. Christ, the incarnate love, wants all men.
I saw my fellow prisoners as they will be. I saw in the shabby, dirty, weak martyr near me the splendidly crowned saint of tomorrow. Looking at men like this - not as they are but as they will be - I could also see in our persecutors a Saul of Tarsus... and a future Apostle Paul. Some have already become so.
It was in prison that we found the hope of salvation for the communists. it was there that we developed a sense of responsibility toward them. it was being tortured by them that we learned to love them.
God sees things differently than we see them, just as we see differently than an ant. From the human point of view, to be tied to a cross and smeared with excrement is a horrible thing. Nonetheless, the Bible calls the sufferings of martyrs "light afflictions." To be in prison for fourteen years is a long period to us. The bible calls it "but for a moment," and tells us that these things are "working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory". This gives us cause to suppose that perhaps the fierce crimes of the communists, which are inexcusable to us, are lighter in the eyes of God than they are in our eyes. Their tyranny, which has lasted almost an entire century, may be before God, for whom a thousand years are like one day, only a moment of erring astray. They can still be saved. The gates of heaven are not closed for them. They can repent like everyone else. We must call them to that repentance.
A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.
A flower, if you bruise it under your feet, rewards you by giving you its perfume. Likewise, Christians, tortured by the communists, rewarded their torturers with love. We brought many of our jailers to Christ. We are dominated by one desire: to give communists who have made us suffer the best we have, the salvation that comes from our Lord.
Many Christians in the west have no love for those in captive nations. Proof of it is that they do nothing for their salvation. They have missions to persuade Christians of one denomination to change to another, but have no mission to captive nations, claiming that such work is "against the law"! They don't love them. But it is not just that they don't love them. By being complacent, and full of neglect, the Western church strengthens the infidels in their infidelity. By not loving communists, and doing nothing to win them for Christ (under the pretext that they are not allowed to do so, as if the first Christians asked permission from Nero to spread the gospel), Western churches also do not love their own flocks either, if they do not allow them to participate in this spiritual battle around the world.
What encourages us to preach the gospel in captive nations is that there those who become Christians are full of love and zeal. The underground church is poor and suffering, but it has few lukewarm members.
Whoever has known the spiritual beauty of the underground church cannot be satisfied anymore with the emptiness of some Western churches.
I suffer in the West more than I suffered in a Communist jail because now I see with my own eyes that Western civilization is dying. You are dying. I see in you all the characteristic stigma of decay. I can prove that your great wealth and your great poverty, your capitalism and your socialism, your wars and your revolutions, your atheism and your pessimism and your cynicism, your immorality, your broken marriages, your birth - control, that is bleeding you from the bottom and killing you off at the top in your brains - can prove to you that there are characteristic marks of the dying ages of ancient states - Alexandria, Greece, and neurotic Rome.
We Christians are often half heatedly on the side of whole truth, when many are wholeheartedly on the side of a lie.
I tremble because of the sufferings of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don't help their persecuted brethren.
The quietness and rest for which I long would be an escape from reality and dangerous for my soul.
The West sleeps and must be awakened to see the plight of captive nations.
I have found truly joyful Christians in only in the Bible, the underground church, and in prison.
Suppose that we could speak with an embryo in his mother's womb and that you would tell him that the embryonic life is only a short one after which follows a real, long life. What would the embryo answer? he would say just what you atheists answer to us, when we speak to you about paradise and hell. He would say that the life in the mother's womb is the only one and that everything else is religious foolishness. but if the embryo could think, he would say to himself, 'Here arms grow on me. I do not need them. I cannot even stretch them. why do they grow? Perhaps they grow for a future stage of my existence, in which i will have to work with them. Legs grow, but i have to keep them bent toward my chest. why do they grow? probably life in a large world follows, where I will have to walk. Eyes grow, although I am surrounded by perfect darkness and don't need them. Why do i have eyes? probably a world with light and colors will follow.' So, if the embryo would reflect on his own development, he would know about a life outside of his mother's womb, without having seen it. It is the same with us. As long as we are young, we have vigor, but no mind to use it properly. When with the years, we have grown in knowledge and wisdom, the hearse waits to take us to the grave. Why was it necessary to grow in knowledge and wisdom that we can use no more? Why do arms, legs, and eyes grow on an embryo? It is for what follows. So it is with us here. We grow here in experience, knowledge, and wisdom for what follows. We are prepared to serve on a higher level that follows death.
Pastors in the West usually assume that those whom they have in church are really convinced about the main truths of the faith, which they are not. You rarely hear a sermon proving the truth of our faith. But behind the Iron Curtain men who have never learned to do it give their new converts a very strong foundation.
Scripture remains true even if the devil quotes it.
By converting those that persecute Christians, we free not only the victims but the persecutors themselves.
Oh, how underground Christians rejoice on the rare occasion that they meet a serious Christian from the West.
Persecution has always produced a better Christian - a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet.
Einstein writes 'Even if we cleanse Judaism of the prophets and Christianity as Jesus taught it from an afterlife, we have a religion which can save the world from all social evils.'
Marx writes 'Christianity is the ideal religion for remaking characters destroyed by sin.'
Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform and countless medicines writes that his greatest discovery was that he was a sinner and that he could be saved by the grace of God.
The life, the self-sacrifice, the blood that believers are ready to shed for their faith, is the greatest argument for Christianity.
In a letter smuggled out secretly, the underground church writes, 'We don't pray to be better christians, but that we may be the only kind of christians God means us to be: Christlike. That is, Chrsitians who bear willingly the cross for God's glory.'
The Bible says that "he who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). These words have meaning in captive nations.
Hear the cries of your brothers and sisters in captive nations! They do not ask for escape, safety, or an easy life. They ask only for the tools to counteract the poisoning of their youth with atheism. They ask for Bibles to use in spreading the Word of God.
We are not guiltless of the fact that others live in rebellion. We are guilty at least by neglect, for we have not made Christ and his fullness known to them.
While our Lord Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter, James, and John were a mere stone's throw away from the greatest drama of history - but they were deep in sleep. How much of your own Christan concern and giving is directed toward the relief of the martyr church? In these countries, the drama, bravery, and martyrdom of the early church are happening all over again - now - and the free church sleeps. Our brethren there, alone and without help, are waging the greatest, most courageous battle of the 20th century, equal to the heroism, courage, and dedication of the early church. and the free church sleeps on, oblivious of the their struggle and agony, just as Peter, James, and John slept in the moment of their saviors agony. Will you sleep while your brethren in Christ suffer and fight for the gospel?
Now I have delivered the message from the faithful, martyred church - from your brothers and sisters suffering in bonds and under attack across the world from Indonesia to Africa. Don't abandon them.
In the Western world, persecution of Christians is often deemed a human rights issue, with an emphasis on the government to guarantee religious freedom and the protection it awards. While this may be true in part, we need to look beyond human reasoning and into the heavenlies. Jesus said if they persecuted him they will persecute us, that we will be hated for his name's sake. That we should "rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven." Although we need to take every opportunity to help those in need, we are to recognize that the "rite" of Christians is to be persecuted.
It is difficult to comprehend that joy and freedom can coexist with some of the worst sufferings known to man, to reconcile how suffering can be granted to us as a "gift" on behalf of Christ. But there is little place for human understanding in the spiritual man destined to live eternally with Christ.
Voice of the Martyrs has developed five main goals in serving today's persecuted church:
1. provide bibles, literature, and radio to restricted nations in their language.
2. give relief to the families of martyrs
3. help believers to rebuild their lives and witness in countries that have suffered communist oppression.
4. win to Christ those who oppose the Gospel.
5. shed light on atrocities committed against the church, and on the courage and faith of those persecuted.
Now I have delivered the message from the faithful, martyred church - from your brothers and sisters suffering in bonds and under attack across the world from Indonesia to Africa. Don't abandon them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So there's those. As I read this and talked about it with a friend, we were left with a question.
Are we really following Jesus?
I don't know.
There's alotta quotes there...like...alot. But these ones made it through like 3 cuts. take the time to read them.
Tortured for Christ.
-Richard Wurmbrand.
The language of love an the language of seduction are the same. The one who wishes a girl for a wife and the one who wishes her only for a night both say the words "I love you."
One after one bishops and pastors arose and declared that communism and Christianity were fundamentally the same and could co-exist. My wife and I were present at this congress. She said to me "Stand up and wash away this shame from the face of Christ! They're spitting in his face." I said to her, "If i do o, you will lose your husband." She replied, "I don't wish to have a coward as a husband."
When he heard of Jesus resurrection, he jumped for joy and swore, using very dirty profanity. He had not yet learned out "holy phrases" but he truly loved the lord with his whole heart.
When Christians in free countries win a soul for Christ, the new believer may become a member of a quietly living church. But when those in captive nations win somebody, we know that he may have to go to prison and that his children may become orphans. The joy of having brought someone to Christ is always mixed with the feeling of knowing that there is a price to be paid.
After he spent an hour giving me all the arguments against the existence of God, I asked him, "Sir, tell me, if there is no God, why is it that you pray when you're in trouble?" In shock, he asked, "How did you know that I pray?" Just as there are many that claim Jesus but are not Christians, there are many who claim Atheism but are not really atheists.
Every soul won for Christ must be made to be a soul-winner. Not only a convert, but a missionary. Many of the Russians were not only converted but were reckless and daring in sharing Christ, saying it was the least they could do for the one that died for them.
The secret police greatly persecuted the underground church because they recognized that if a man believed in Christ, he would never be a mindless, willing subject.
Never imagine a prison as in the West when you hear about a sentenced brother in a restricted nation. Prison there means starvation, torture, and brainwashing.
For being Christians:
"these are only a handful of what happened. other things cannot be told. my heart would fail to have to recount them."
1. tortured with hot knives and iron pokers.
2. forced to stand for two weeks.
3. his 14 year old son was beaten in front of him. About to give in, his son replies, "don't do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent. Withstand." He did. His son was beaten to death in front of him.
4. Handcuffs with nails were used. When they shivered from the cold, the nails would tear the flesh.
5. hung upside down and beaten.
6. frozen in ice-rooms until the point of death. then removed and thawed. then frozen again.
7. forced to stand in wooden coffins for hours on end. nails driven through the wood, reminding them everytime they slouched, twitched, or were met with fatigue.
8. men were tied to crosses and placed on the floor. All the other prisoners were forced to relieve themselves on the faces of those tied to the crosses. the crosses were then erected and mocked. "Look at your Christ, how beautiful he is, how fragrant is the incense he brings from heaven!"
9. a priest was forced to consecrate feces and urine and give it as communion.
10. beat on the bottom of the feet.
11. beat on the testicles.
12. fingernails torn out.
The cruelty of atheism is hard to believe. when a man has no faith in the reward of good or the punishment of evil, there is no reason to be human, no restraint from the depth of evil that is in man. I heard one torturer say "I thank God, in whom I don't believe, that I have lived to this hour when I can express all the evil in my heart." He expressed it in unbelievable brutality and torture on Christian prisoners.
Communism had destroyed any moral sense in them. They often boasted that they had no pity in their hearts. I learned from them. As they allowed no place for Jesus in their hearts, I decided I would leave not the smallest place for Satan in mine.
For seventeen hours a day we heard "communism is good. Christianity is stupid. Give up." Several Christians have asked how we could resist brainwashing. There is only one method of resistance to brainwashing: heartwashing. If the heart is cleansed by the love of Jesus, and if the heart loves him, one can resist all tortures.
It was forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that if you were caught doing this you received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price, we accepted their terms and made a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us. Everyone was happy.
One of the leaders of the torture often said to Christians, "You know, I am God. I have the power of life and death over you. The one who is in heaven cannot decide to keep you in life. Everything depends upon me. If I wish, you life. If I wish, you die. I am God." One of the men gave him this answer, "You don't know what a deep think you have said. You have been created to become like God, with the life of God in your heart. Jesus said to the Jews of his time, 'ye are gods.' Believe me, your real calling is to be Godlike - to have the character of God, not a torturer." Though this man paid no mind at the time, he later came to Christ.
When one Christian was sentenced to death, he was allowed to see his wife before being executed. his last words to her were, "You must know that I die loving those who kill me. They don't know what they do and my last request of you is to love them too. Don't have bitterness in your heat because they killed your beloved one." These words impressed the officer who attended the discussion between the two. He told me the story in prison where he had been sent for becoming a Christian.
If a poor man is a great lover of music, he gives his last dollar to listen to a concert. He is then without money, but he does not feel furstrated. He has heard beautiful things. I don't feel frustrated to have lost many years in prison, for I have seen beautiful things.
A brother entered prison on account of his work in the Underground Church. He left behind a wife with six children. His older daughters of seventeen and nineteen could not get a job. The only one that gives jobs in a Communist country is the state, and it does not give jobs to children of criminal Christians. Please don't judge this story according to moral standards; just receive the facts. The two daughters of a Christian martyr - Christians themselves - became prostitutes to support their younger brothers and sick mother. Their younger brother of fourteen became insane when he saw it and had to be put in an asylum. When years later the imprisoned father returned, his only prayer was, "God, take me to prison again. I cannot bear to see this." his prayer was answered ad he was jailed again for the crime of having witnessed for Christ. His daughters were no longer prostitutes, as they received jobs by complying with the demands of the secret police - they become informers. As daughters of a Christian Martyr, they are received with honor in every house. They listen and then they report everything they hear to the secret police. Don't just say that this is ugly and immoral - of course it is - but ask yourself if it is not also your sin that such tragedies occur, that such Christian families are left alone, and are not helped by you who are free.
Two christian organizations paid the communist government $10,000 for my freedom. I could now leave Romania. I would not have left Romania, despite the dangers, if the leaders of the underground church had not commanded me to use this opportunity to leave and be their voice in the free world. Upon my departure the government told me not to speak against them. They told me how easy it would be to have me killed, or kidnapped and brought back. They also told me they could invalidate my testimony by destroying me morally, spreading a story about me with a woman, theft, or some other sin; because it is well known that Westerners - especially Americans - are very easily deceived."
Friendship means one soul in two breasts.
I have seen Christians in communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with redhot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold -- and praying with fervor for the communists. This is humanly inexplicable. It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts.
As the grave insists on having all - rich and poor; young and old; men of all races, nations, and political convictions; saints and criminals - so love is all embracing. Christ, the incarnate love, wants all men.
I saw my fellow prisoners as they will be. I saw in the shabby, dirty, weak martyr near me the splendidly crowned saint of tomorrow. Looking at men like this - not as they are but as they will be - I could also see in our persecutors a Saul of Tarsus... and a future Apostle Paul. Some have already become so.
It was in prison that we found the hope of salvation for the communists. it was there that we developed a sense of responsibility toward them. it was being tortured by them that we learned to love them.
God sees things differently than we see them, just as we see differently than an ant. From the human point of view, to be tied to a cross and smeared with excrement is a horrible thing. Nonetheless, the Bible calls the sufferings of martyrs "light afflictions." To be in prison for fourteen years is a long period to us. The bible calls it "but for a moment," and tells us that these things are "working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory". This gives us cause to suppose that perhaps the fierce crimes of the communists, which are inexcusable to us, are lighter in the eyes of God than they are in our eyes. Their tyranny, which has lasted almost an entire century, may be before God, for whom a thousand years are like one day, only a moment of erring astray. They can still be saved. The gates of heaven are not closed for them. They can repent like everyone else. We must call them to that repentance.
A man really believes not what he recites in his creed, but only the things he is ready to die for.
A flower, if you bruise it under your feet, rewards you by giving you its perfume. Likewise, Christians, tortured by the communists, rewarded their torturers with love. We brought many of our jailers to Christ. We are dominated by one desire: to give communists who have made us suffer the best we have, the salvation that comes from our Lord.
Many Christians in the west have no love for those in captive nations. Proof of it is that they do nothing for their salvation. They have missions to persuade Christians of one denomination to change to another, but have no mission to captive nations, claiming that such work is "against the law"! They don't love them. But it is not just that they don't love them. By being complacent, and full of neglect, the Western church strengthens the infidels in their infidelity. By not loving communists, and doing nothing to win them for Christ (under the pretext that they are not allowed to do so, as if the first Christians asked permission from Nero to spread the gospel), Western churches also do not love their own flocks either, if they do not allow them to participate in this spiritual battle around the world.
What encourages us to preach the gospel in captive nations is that there those who become Christians are full of love and zeal. The underground church is poor and suffering, but it has few lukewarm members.
Whoever has known the spiritual beauty of the underground church cannot be satisfied anymore with the emptiness of some Western churches.
I suffer in the West more than I suffered in a Communist jail because now I see with my own eyes that Western civilization is dying. You are dying. I see in you all the characteristic stigma of decay. I can prove that your great wealth and your great poverty, your capitalism and your socialism, your wars and your revolutions, your atheism and your pessimism and your cynicism, your immorality, your broken marriages, your birth - control, that is bleeding you from the bottom and killing you off at the top in your brains - can prove to you that there are characteristic marks of the dying ages of ancient states - Alexandria, Greece, and neurotic Rome.
We Christians are often half heatedly on the side of whole truth, when many are wholeheartedly on the side of a lie.
I tremble because of the sufferings of those persecuted in different lands. I tremble thinking about the eternal destiny of their torturers. I tremble for Western Christians who don't help their persecuted brethren.
The quietness and rest for which I long would be an escape from reality and dangerous for my soul.
The West sleeps and must be awakened to see the plight of captive nations.
I have found truly joyful Christians in only in the Bible, the underground church, and in prison.
Suppose that we could speak with an embryo in his mother's womb and that you would tell him that the embryonic life is only a short one after which follows a real, long life. What would the embryo answer? he would say just what you atheists answer to us, when we speak to you about paradise and hell. He would say that the life in the mother's womb is the only one and that everything else is religious foolishness. but if the embryo could think, he would say to himself, 'Here arms grow on me. I do not need them. I cannot even stretch them. why do they grow? Perhaps they grow for a future stage of my existence, in which i will have to work with them. Legs grow, but i have to keep them bent toward my chest. why do they grow? probably life in a large world follows, where I will have to walk. Eyes grow, although I am surrounded by perfect darkness and don't need them. Why do i have eyes? probably a world with light and colors will follow.' So, if the embryo would reflect on his own development, he would know about a life outside of his mother's womb, without having seen it. It is the same with us. As long as we are young, we have vigor, but no mind to use it properly. When with the years, we have grown in knowledge and wisdom, the hearse waits to take us to the grave. Why was it necessary to grow in knowledge and wisdom that we can use no more? Why do arms, legs, and eyes grow on an embryo? It is for what follows. So it is with us here. We grow here in experience, knowledge, and wisdom for what follows. We are prepared to serve on a higher level that follows death.
Pastors in the West usually assume that those whom they have in church are really convinced about the main truths of the faith, which they are not. You rarely hear a sermon proving the truth of our faith. But behind the Iron Curtain men who have never learned to do it give their new converts a very strong foundation.
Scripture remains true even if the devil quotes it.
By converting those that persecute Christians, we free not only the victims but the persecutors themselves.
Oh, how underground Christians rejoice on the rare occasion that they meet a serious Christian from the West.
Persecution has always produced a better Christian - a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet.
Einstein writes 'Even if we cleanse Judaism of the prophets and Christianity as Jesus taught it from an afterlife, we have a religion which can save the world from all social evils.'
Marx writes 'Christianity is the ideal religion for remaking characters destroyed by sin.'
Simpson, the discoverer of chloroform and countless medicines writes that his greatest discovery was that he was a sinner and that he could be saved by the grace of God.
The life, the self-sacrifice, the blood that believers are ready to shed for their faith, is the greatest argument for Christianity.
In a letter smuggled out secretly, the underground church writes, 'We don't pray to be better christians, but that we may be the only kind of christians God means us to be: Christlike. That is, Chrsitians who bear willingly the cross for God's glory.'
The Bible says that "he who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). These words have meaning in captive nations.
Hear the cries of your brothers and sisters in captive nations! They do not ask for escape, safety, or an easy life. They ask only for the tools to counteract the poisoning of their youth with atheism. They ask for Bibles to use in spreading the Word of God.
We are not guiltless of the fact that others live in rebellion. We are guilty at least by neglect, for we have not made Christ and his fullness known to them.
While our Lord Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter, James, and John were a mere stone's throw away from the greatest drama of history - but they were deep in sleep. How much of your own Christan concern and giving is directed toward the relief of the martyr church? In these countries, the drama, bravery, and martyrdom of the early church are happening all over again - now - and the free church sleeps. Our brethren there, alone and without help, are waging the greatest, most courageous battle of the 20th century, equal to the heroism, courage, and dedication of the early church. and the free church sleeps on, oblivious of the their struggle and agony, just as Peter, James, and John slept in the moment of their saviors agony. Will you sleep while your brethren in Christ suffer and fight for the gospel?
Now I have delivered the message from the faithful, martyred church - from your brothers and sisters suffering in bonds and under attack across the world from Indonesia to Africa. Don't abandon them.
In the Western world, persecution of Christians is often deemed a human rights issue, with an emphasis on the government to guarantee religious freedom and the protection it awards. While this may be true in part, we need to look beyond human reasoning and into the heavenlies. Jesus said if they persecuted him they will persecute us, that we will be hated for his name's sake. That we should "rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven." Although we need to take every opportunity to help those in need, we are to recognize that the "rite" of Christians is to be persecuted.
It is difficult to comprehend that joy and freedom can coexist with some of the worst sufferings known to man, to reconcile how suffering can be granted to us as a "gift" on behalf of Christ. But there is little place for human understanding in the spiritual man destined to live eternally with Christ.
Voice of the Martyrs has developed five main goals in serving today's persecuted church:
1. provide bibles, literature, and radio to restricted nations in their language.
2. give relief to the families of martyrs
3. help believers to rebuild their lives and witness in countries that have suffered communist oppression.
4. win to Christ those who oppose the Gospel.
5. shed light on atrocities committed against the church, and on the courage and faith of those persecuted.
Now I have delivered the message from the faithful, martyred church - from your brothers and sisters suffering in bonds and under attack across the world from Indonesia to Africa. Don't abandon them.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So there's those. As I read this and talked about it with a friend, we were left with a question.
Are we really following Jesus?
I don't know.
Monday, March 8, 2010
A few weeks ago
2ish am: I leave my room to shower. The elevator opens behind me, and I hear,
"Oh my God. I'm going to go to jail."
"Don't worry about it. You only have to be 16 in Canada. She's Canadian, right?"
"Oh my God. I'm going to go to jail."
I didn't really recognize the voices off hand so I kept going. As I'm in the shower, the guys come in and start showering too. After a minute or two I can pick out the voices as some folks from my floor that I'm acquainted with, but really don't know and haven't had any sort of legitimate conversation with to this point. The conversation basically repeats itself, and the initial guy sounds pretty worried. The buddy repeats his "Age of consent in Canada" thing. Then they start joking about the whole situation. Initial guy details how the deleted random girl from facebook and changed all his privacy settings so she wouldn't be able to "track him down". Jokes about Chris Hansen's "To Catch A Predator". Jokes about how she was "sucha bitch anyway".
Enter two other gentlemen from my floor to the showers. They enter the conversation and get the scoop from the first two guys. These guys I know a little bit better, though still not very well at all. One of the new guys I new had been doing some seeking, the other, I knew claimed Jesus. The conversation turns away from the hilarious topic of statutory rape to the wonderful world of webcams. The gents start exchanging stories of their recent webcam exploits, and how they've been figuring out the best strategies for tricking the most girls into showing them the most skin.
So I leave. I'm pretty mad. I don't really get angry, but I'm pretty pissed off. As I'm leaving I see two guys that I know aren't from our floor going into two different rooms on the floor with these sly little smirks. Needless to say, these particular rooms aren't men's rooms. Keep heading back towards my room. I pass by one of the girls that lives in one of those rooms. We make eye contact. Face full of guilt. Full of discomfort. She watched me watch random dude go into her room. Stutters a little bit. Stumbles over something to the effect of,
"hmmm..that's interesting...i don't think i've ever seen that guy before...weird..umkwelligottagonowgoodnightbye."
then runs off to her room and closes the door. Now i'm pissed and really sad. Sad because I know this young woman also claims Jesus. Sad because I know some of her struggles with men. Pissed because some random guy is about to take advantage of that then disappear, go back to wherever he lives, and have a conversation about this girl similar to the one those guys had in the bathroom. At this point, i'm like 80% mad. 20% sad.
I get back to my room and I'm kind of at a loss for what my response to the last 20 minutes is supposed to look like. With the gentlemen, I'm acquainted with them enough to where if I saw them face to face they would probably tell me all the details. But I can't seek that out, because there's no way I could share their sentiments on the situation, but at the same time we don't have the depth of relationship where I would have the authority to speak into their lives as anything other than some christian finding something else to condemn them for (at least that's my interpretation of their interpretation). With the woman, we've talked about it all before, her response to me in the hall said enough.
So I sit in my room trying to do the leftover work I have. But really, I'm just sitting there being angry and at a loss for a proper response. Eventually, not looking for a response anymore, just being angry. All the normal, almost cliche questions: Don't they those guys see that the women are real people? Where is the respect? Where is the value? What makes it ok for them to have their way with someone, play tricks and games to get what they want, and then leave, erase the person from their life, and talk crap about them like it doesn't even matter? What if that was your daughter? What if that was your future wife? Would you be ok with someone else treating them like that? For the men that I didn't know at all, it's not cool, but not really surprising I guess, but for the guys that were seeking, it makes sense that they're not finding anything, for the guys that claimed Jesus, I couldn't even really think about that one because it just hurt my brain trying to understand how they could think it was ok on any level. For the woman, why are you letting yourself be taken advantage of? Why can't you see that you're worth more than an hour of stimulation for some random guy? etc. etc. so on and so forth.
This is my initial response to seeing this in a group of maybe...
6 guys (only two of which I was familar with)
mistreating a group of
4 women (mentioned individually, only one of which i was familiar with)
And then it hits me. And then I get really really sad. Like 98% sad and 2% mad.
So what hit me?
REWIND.
-----------------------------------
Beginning of 7th grade I see my first semi-pornographic image. accidentally.
A few weeks later I see my 2nd semi-pornographic image. intentionally.
At the time, I knew it was shady enough to hide, but had no concept of it actually being wrong, or bad, or harmful. Over the next year and a half it gradually worked its way into my list of habits, escalating in frequency, becoming more explicit. Baby steps, sure, but if a baby steps for 18 months, he'll probably go quite a ways, and by the end, he'll just be walking. maybe not the most accurate analogy but you get the point.
The back half of 8th grade, I made that connection, and was pretty alarmed by how progressive of a habit it had become. No longer a leisurely passtime, but something I wanted gone.
I spent the next 6 months trying (and failing miserably) to quit. I talked to my pastor about it. That got us nowhere. I gave up and gave in for the next two years. Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day.
In the middle of my junior year of highschool I got sick of it again and me and a few frinds started doing accountability. Made alot of progress, relatively speaking, knocked it down to a few times a month for junior year, only only a few times for all of senior year.
Freshman year of college revisited the junior years of highschool, in terms of frequency. Started accountability again at the end of freshman year. Got a filter. Have more or less had no access for the last year and half-ish.
-----------------------------------
K Let's bring it back.
What does any of that have to do with the conversations and situations that night?
I was the most angry I've been in a long time, after seeing and hearing about a handful of examples of guys treating women in ways they didn't deserve to be treated, and the women (for the most part) letting it happen. Then I realized:
7 years of pornography is a ton of women I've mistreated. And not even that. It's a ton of women that had to be mistreated by countless other people in order for there to even be any porn in the first place. It's not just a matter of me consuming, or other people producing, on its own, it's the reality that the consumption SANCTIONS, ENCOURAGES, REQUESTS production (and everything entailed by the production).
That alone made me sad. That's probably an understatement. It's an understatement.
While I really have no concept of how to go about calculating how many women I've affected like this, I just know it's astronomical. But what happened that night was was this:
1)I saw the flippant, careless, attitude the guys carried towards the women after they were "done with them".
2)I saw the brokenness, shame, and helplessness in the eyes of this woman I know in the midst of being treated the way the men had just finished interacting with various other girls.
3)I saw myself in those 6 men.
4)I saw my friend in every woman of those 7 years.
Prior to this, I pretty much new and could tell you any of the above information. But this wasn't about information, or worldview, morality, judgment, any of that.
All the things I knew came together in a way they really haven't ever before as God put actual faces to my sin.
I still don't know what my response is supposed to be. Maybe compassion. Probably. Not quite sure what that would look like though.
I suppose I'm left with a call to continue to seek him, to remember this grace and mercy, and that I do actually need it, and to testify to him among the people from my own life.
A call to remember and believe:
1 Timothy 1:12-17
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am worst of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the worst, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
2ish am: I leave my room to shower. The elevator opens behind me, and I hear,
"Oh my God. I'm going to go to jail."
"Don't worry about it. You only have to be 16 in Canada. She's Canadian, right?"
"Oh my God. I'm going to go to jail."
I didn't really recognize the voices off hand so I kept going. As I'm in the shower, the guys come in and start showering too. After a minute or two I can pick out the voices as some folks from my floor that I'm acquainted with, but really don't know and haven't had any sort of legitimate conversation with to this point. The conversation basically repeats itself, and the initial guy sounds pretty worried. The buddy repeats his "Age of consent in Canada" thing. Then they start joking about the whole situation. Initial guy details how the deleted random girl from facebook and changed all his privacy settings so she wouldn't be able to "track him down". Jokes about Chris Hansen's "To Catch A Predator". Jokes about how she was "sucha bitch anyway".
Enter two other gentlemen from my floor to the showers. They enter the conversation and get the scoop from the first two guys. These guys I know a little bit better, though still not very well at all. One of the new guys I new had been doing some seeking, the other, I knew claimed Jesus. The conversation turns away from the hilarious topic of statutory rape to the wonderful world of webcams. The gents start exchanging stories of their recent webcam exploits, and how they've been figuring out the best strategies for tricking the most girls into showing them the most skin.
So I leave. I'm pretty mad. I don't really get angry, but I'm pretty pissed off. As I'm leaving I see two guys that I know aren't from our floor going into two different rooms on the floor with these sly little smirks. Needless to say, these particular rooms aren't men's rooms. Keep heading back towards my room. I pass by one of the girls that lives in one of those rooms. We make eye contact. Face full of guilt. Full of discomfort. She watched me watch random dude go into her room. Stutters a little bit. Stumbles over something to the effect of,
"hmmm..that's interesting...i don't think i've ever seen that guy before...weird..umkwelligottagonowgoodnightbye."
then runs off to her room and closes the door. Now i'm pissed and really sad. Sad because I know this young woman also claims Jesus. Sad because I know some of her struggles with men. Pissed because some random guy is about to take advantage of that then disappear, go back to wherever he lives, and have a conversation about this girl similar to the one those guys had in the bathroom. At this point, i'm like 80% mad. 20% sad.
I get back to my room and I'm kind of at a loss for what my response to the last 20 minutes is supposed to look like. With the gentlemen, I'm acquainted with them enough to where if I saw them face to face they would probably tell me all the details. But I can't seek that out, because there's no way I could share their sentiments on the situation, but at the same time we don't have the depth of relationship where I would have the authority to speak into their lives as anything other than some christian finding something else to condemn them for (at least that's my interpretation of their interpretation). With the woman, we've talked about it all before, her response to me in the hall said enough.
So I sit in my room trying to do the leftover work I have. But really, I'm just sitting there being angry and at a loss for a proper response. Eventually, not looking for a response anymore, just being angry. All the normal, almost cliche questions: Don't they those guys see that the women are real people? Where is the respect? Where is the value? What makes it ok for them to have their way with someone, play tricks and games to get what they want, and then leave, erase the person from their life, and talk crap about them like it doesn't even matter? What if that was your daughter? What if that was your future wife? Would you be ok with someone else treating them like that? For the men that I didn't know at all, it's not cool, but not really surprising I guess, but for the guys that were seeking, it makes sense that they're not finding anything, for the guys that claimed Jesus, I couldn't even really think about that one because it just hurt my brain trying to understand how they could think it was ok on any level. For the woman, why are you letting yourself be taken advantage of? Why can't you see that you're worth more than an hour of stimulation for some random guy? etc. etc. so on and so forth.
This is my initial response to seeing this in a group of maybe...
6 guys (only two of which I was familar with)
mistreating a group of
4 women (mentioned individually, only one of which i was familiar with)
And then it hits me. And then I get really really sad. Like 98% sad and 2% mad.
So what hit me?
REWIND.
-----------------------------------
Beginning of 7th grade I see my first semi-pornographic image. accidentally.
A few weeks later I see my 2nd semi-pornographic image. intentionally.
At the time, I knew it was shady enough to hide, but had no concept of it actually being wrong, or bad, or harmful. Over the next year and a half it gradually worked its way into my list of habits, escalating in frequency, becoming more explicit. Baby steps, sure, but if a baby steps for 18 months, he'll probably go quite a ways, and by the end, he'll just be walking. maybe not the most accurate analogy but you get the point.
The back half of 8th grade, I made that connection, and was pretty alarmed by how progressive of a habit it had become. No longer a leisurely passtime, but something I wanted gone.
I spent the next 6 months trying (and failing miserably) to quit. I talked to my pastor about it. That got us nowhere. I gave up and gave in for the next two years. Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day.
In the middle of my junior year of highschool I got sick of it again and me and a few frinds started doing accountability. Made alot of progress, relatively speaking, knocked it down to a few times a month for junior year, only only a few times for all of senior year.
Freshman year of college revisited the junior years of highschool, in terms of frequency. Started accountability again at the end of freshman year. Got a filter. Have more or less had no access for the last year and half-ish.
-----------------------------------
K Let's bring it back.
What does any of that have to do with the conversations and situations that night?
I was the most angry I've been in a long time, after seeing and hearing about a handful of examples of guys treating women in ways they didn't deserve to be treated, and the women (for the most part) letting it happen. Then I realized:
7 years of pornography is a ton of women I've mistreated. And not even that. It's a ton of women that had to be mistreated by countless other people in order for there to even be any porn in the first place. It's not just a matter of me consuming, or other people producing, on its own, it's the reality that the consumption SANCTIONS, ENCOURAGES, REQUESTS production (and everything entailed by the production).
That alone made me sad. That's probably an understatement. It's an understatement.
While I really have no concept of how to go about calculating how many women I've affected like this, I just know it's astronomical. But what happened that night was was this:
1)I saw the flippant, careless, attitude the guys carried towards the women after they were "done with them".
2)I saw the brokenness, shame, and helplessness in the eyes of this woman I know in the midst of being treated the way the men had just finished interacting with various other girls.
3)I saw myself in those 6 men.
4)I saw my friend in every woman of those 7 years.
Prior to this, I pretty much new and could tell you any of the above information. But this wasn't about information, or worldview, morality, judgment, any of that.
All the things I knew came together in a way they really haven't ever before as God put actual faces to my sin.
I still don't know what my response is supposed to be. Maybe compassion. Probably. Not quite sure what that would look like though.
I suppose I'm left with a call to continue to seek him, to remember this grace and mercy, and that I do actually need it, and to testify to him among the people from my own life.
A call to remember and believe:
1 Timothy 1:12-17
"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am worst of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the worst, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Psalm 139 (In a Slightly Bigger Box)
Observations and Context:
I've only ever heard Psalm 139 taught from one angle. It goes something like this:
"Verses 13 to 15 say: 'For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (S)Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.' Does your soul know that God made you wonderfully and with great skill? What might it look like for you to yourself in this way?"
Essentially getting at the idea of value, self-worth, self-image and finding/defining those things based on what the Word says about them instead finding/defining those things by what our family, friends, strangers, culture, society, past relationships, etc. has said about them.
This is huge. It's worthy of countless presentations, sermons, and hours spent meditating on its truth.
Questions:
But...what about the other 21 verses?
Observations: II
So a few of us were reading through it and this Psalm took on an entirely different persona for me. What jumped out was a beautiful image of what it looks like to be a Godly leader that came from realizing that Psalm 139 is the psalmists description of how God leads him (vs 10, vs 24).
Implications: The Godly Leader
1. Knows intimately the character of the people they lead. Both the inner character (v.2) and it's outer manifestations (vs 1-4). In the "They finish my sentences" fashion. Or at least, that's the imagery that comes to mind for me.
2. Is a pursuer of the people they lead (v.7), is pretty closely tied with number three.
3. Is radically faithful to the people they lead. They are a constant presence in the good things in their lives (vs. 8:Heaven), the hells of their lives (vs. 8:Sheol), and the confusing, unknown, foreboding, daunting areas in their lives that just seem to big to do anything concrete with (vs. 9:Remotest part of the sea.)
4. Is proactive with their faithfulness. They aren't just constantly around the people they lead, but they're finding ways to take their hands and lead them forward (vs. 10)
5. Is able to see the goodness of God in the darkest times for the people they lead. I think this is one of my favorite ones. Verses 11 and 12 say:
"If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day."
When all they can see is darkness, and all of their expectation rests on the belief that the good things they see are about to fade, the Godly leader is still able to see how God might be at work in the situation, the way's he is seeking to grow them, and is able to encourage, even when they're in that place. God is able to vision for his people from beyond the immediate circumstances his people find themselves in.
6. Is creative and skillful in the development of the people they lead. (vs. 13-15). Leadership and development is something portrayed as incredibly intimate, careful, and joyous.
7. Is able to see areas that need growth, and plan out how to make that happen. They can see the things that are unformed (vs.16), and develop a way to grow that area up to maturity. There's an underlying sense of hope, expectancy, and purpose that all come to the surface in this process. It implies a heavy presence of forward thinking. (vs. 16: the days ordained for me before they existed).
8. Thinks a lot about the people they lead. Thoughts that outnumber the sand (vs. 17-18) ...that's a lot of thoughts.
9. Interprets the things they do for the people they lead. What strikes me about all of these details about God as a leader, is that they don't come from God saying "I do x, y, and z." They come from someone that God is leading saying "God leads me in this way, and that way." The person being lead can articulate their interactions and the purposes of them. The psalmist understands that God has countless thoughts about him and values them immensely. The people being lead should know and understand the things that the leaders are investing into them. They'd probably like it.
Implications(II): When This Happens
These are more theoretical but hey whynot.
1. The people you lead know your heart for them (Psalm 139:all). The leader is valued (vs.17)
2. (Courtesy of Leah) The people's wills and hearts are drawn to yours. They develop a passion for your passions and begin to desire motion towards those things (vs. 21 and 22)
3. The people you lead will desire more of the same (vs. 24). Because of their trust in you as their leader, they will become people that seek the vulnerability of being known (vs. 23: know my heart), the discomfort of being tested (vs. 23: try me), and the accountability of being called out (vs. 24: see if there is anything hurtful, lead me in the way everlasting).
Applications: All of it?
Seriously. I have my moments, but generally speaking I don't do this. This is a picture of leadership that stems from character, and leads to people of character. I need a new heart.
1Thessalonians. Chapter 5. Verse 23 and 24.
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."
Amen.
I've only ever heard Psalm 139 taught from one angle. It goes something like this:
"Verses 13 to 15 say: 'For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; (S)Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.' Does your soul know that God made you wonderfully and with great skill? What might it look like for you to yourself in this way?"
Essentially getting at the idea of value, self-worth, self-image and finding/defining those things based on what the Word says about them instead finding/defining those things by what our family, friends, strangers, culture, society, past relationships, etc. has said about them.
This is huge. It's worthy of countless presentations, sermons, and hours spent meditating on its truth.
Questions:
But...what about the other 21 verses?
Observations: II
So a few of us were reading through it and this Psalm took on an entirely different persona for me. What jumped out was a beautiful image of what it looks like to be a Godly leader that came from realizing that Psalm 139 is the psalmists description of how God leads him (vs 10, vs 24).
Implications: The Godly Leader
1. Knows intimately the character of the people they lead. Both the inner character (v.2) and it's outer manifestations (vs 1-4). In the "They finish my sentences" fashion. Or at least, that's the imagery that comes to mind for me.
2. Is a pursuer of the people they lead (v.7), is pretty closely tied with number three.
3. Is radically faithful to the people they lead. They are a constant presence in the good things in their lives (vs. 8:Heaven), the hells of their lives (vs. 8:Sheol), and the confusing, unknown, foreboding, daunting areas in their lives that just seem to big to do anything concrete with (vs. 9:Remotest part of the sea.)
4. Is proactive with their faithfulness. They aren't just constantly around the people they lead, but they're finding ways to take their hands and lead them forward (vs. 10)
5. Is able to see the goodness of God in the darkest times for the people they lead. I think this is one of my favorite ones. Verses 11 and 12 say:
"If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night," Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day."
When all they can see is darkness, and all of their expectation rests on the belief that the good things they see are about to fade, the Godly leader is still able to see how God might be at work in the situation, the way's he is seeking to grow them, and is able to encourage, even when they're in that place. God is able to vision for his people from beyond the immediate circumstances his people find themselves in.
6. Is creative and skillful in the development of the people they lead. (vs. 13-15). Leadership and development is something portrayed as incredibly intimate, careful, and joyous.
7. Is able to see areas that need growth, and plan out how to make that happen. They can see the things that are unformed (vs.16), and develop a way to grow that area up to maturity. There's an underlying sense of hope, expectancy, and purpose that all come to the surface in this process. It implies a heavy presence of forward thinking. (vs. 16: the days ordained for me before they existed).
8. Thinks a lot about the people they lead. Thoughts that outnumber the sand (vs. 17-18) ...that's a lot of thoughts.
9. Interprets the things they do for the people they lead. What strikes me about all of these details about God as a leader, is that they don't come from God saying "I do x, y, and z." They come from someone that God is leading saying "God leads me in this way, and that way." The person being lead can articulate their interactions and the purposes of them. The psalmist understands that God has countless thoughts about him and values them immensely. The people being lead should know and understand the things that the leaders are investing into them. They'd probably like it.
Implications(II): When This Happens
These are more theoretical but hey whynot.
1. The people you lead know your heart for them (Psalm 139:all). The leader is valued (vs.17)
2. (Courtesy of Leah) The people's wills and hearts are drawn to yours. They develop a passion for your passions and begin to desire motion towards those things (vs. 21 and 22)
3. The people you lead will desire more of the same (vs. 24). Because of their trust in you as their leader, they will become people that seek the vulnerability of being known (vs. 23: know my heart), the discomfort of being tested (vs. 23: try me), and the accountability of being called out (vs. 24: see if there is anything hurtful, lead me in the way everlasting).
Applications: All of it?
Seriously. I have my moments, but generally speaking I don't do this. This is a picture of leadership that stems from character, and leads to people of character. I need a new heart.
1Thessalonians. Chapter 5. Verse 23 and 24.
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass."
Amen.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Long.
Part One: Proverbs 8
1 Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 "To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
In verses 4 "Wisdom" begins to speak. Between verses 4 and 21, Wisdom is addressing man, and it describes itself as: one that speaks of nobel things, speaks truth, is free from perversion, makes sense to those who find truth, is more valuable than gold and material wealth, can't stand evil, pride, arrogance, or perversion, provides counsel and soundness, is full of understanding and power, influences people...of influence, will be found by those that seek, gives riches that last, yields fruit better than money, and rewards those that love it.
Then in 22 Wisdom says of itself:
22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23"From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
It continues basically: "I, Wisdom, existed before there were oceans or underground springs, before mountains or hills, before the earth, fields, or dust, before there were the heavens, or the skies were made, before water was separated from land, before the foundations of earth were laid." then proceeds:
30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having delight in the sons of men.
Wisdom then ends its discourse with "Therefore, listen to me and be blessed, don't neglect my instruction. When you find me, you find life, and favor from the Lord. When you ignore me, it hurts you. If you don't love me, you love your own demise."
Recap: Chapter 8 is a personification of Wisdom. There's a whole list of its attributes as well as the claim that Wisdom was present before creation, and after it took delight in the creation and in Mankind.
Part Two: John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
vs 4-14: John was sent by God to testify to the man who was the Light of Man that shines in the darkness. Some people believed this guy, some didn't. The ones that did, he gave the right to become children of God
14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
vs 15-18: John said the Word dwelt among folks and was full of grace and truth, and that this person of grace and truth is the Person of Jesus.
Recap: John opens talking about how "the Word" was with God during creation, and that it was God. It claims that "the Word" had both presence and a hand in creation. "the Word" then became a man full of grace and truth. John finally says that Jesus was the one full of grace and truth, and that his life made the glory of the Father known.
Part 3: The connection
Part 1: Wisdom personified and portraying itself to man, one of the main things it focuses on is that it was present for and had a role in creation (1/3 of the chapter sits on this).
Part 2: The first thing John does is talk about "the Word"'s presence and role in creation. Followed by the declaration that the Word became flesh in the form of Jesus.
Connection: Wisdom personified has presence and role in creation, and the Word has presence and role in creation. the Word is incarnate as Jesus. So moving backwards, Jesus is the personification, embodiment, incarnation of Wisdom.
Part 4: Implications
For Jesus: Ok, Jesus is wise. Duh, he's Jesus. But previously, that's pretty much the extent of the logic. But now its beyond that. And it actually has something of a basis in text instead of just well he's supposed to be wise because hes Jesus. He's not just wise. He's the physical manifestation of Wisdom. That's kind of crazy.
For Proverbs: Ok, Proverbs. Wise sayings. Is it more than that? If Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom, then everything in Proverbs that describes wisdom, doesn't just describe wisdom, it says something specific about the personal character of Jesus. All the places where wisdom addresses man, is a look at Jesus heart as he speaks to us. Each place where wisdom cautions someone to do or not to do something, is insight to the very things that Jesus urges us to or away from. It's no longer a collection of good advice. It's both an exposition of Jesus character and a snapshot of the heart that he has for us (take a look at the summary of Proverbs 8:4-21 again through that lens).
Final Recap: Jesus isn't just wise, he is the complete epitome of wisdom. Proverbs isn't just good advice, its a breakdown of who Jesus is, and his vision for the lives of those that really seek to follow him. I haven't landed on any actual solid implications of this other than its really cool, and adds some force to the teachings in proverbs and understandings of J.
and since this is already ridiculously long, couldn't hurt to add this too. this song is bomb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtaHywIx2Fg
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
When you feel the dark inside you
and the wind and waves keep pushing you down
Feel the whole world pulling you around
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
When you feel the dark inside you
and the moon and stars don't lead you nowhere
Feels like no one's watching up there
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
Let me be the one.....standing when you come
Lay your anchor down and let me wrap my arms around you
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
For you I stand
For you I ... stand
Here's to random things spurring lengthy discourses. Amen.
1 Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2 On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4 "To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
In verses 4 "Wisdom" begins to speak. Between verses 4 and 21, Wisdom is addressing man, and it describes itself as: one that speaks of nobel things, speaks truth, is free from perversion, makes sense to those who find truth, is more valuable than gold and material wealth, can't stand evil, pride, arrogance, or perversion, provides counsel and soundness, is full of understanding and power, influences people...of influence, will be found by those that seek, gives riches that last, yields fruit better than money, and rewards those that love it.
Then in 22 Wisdom says of itself:
22"The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23"From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
It continues basically: "I, Wisdom, existed before there were oceans or underground springs, before mountains or hills, before the earth, fields, or dust, before there were the heavens, or the skies were made, before water was separated from land, before the foundations of earth were laid." then proceeds:
30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having delight in the sons of men.
Wisdom then ends its discourse with "Therefore, listen to me and be blessed, don't neglect my instruction. When you find me, you find life, and favor from the Lord. When you ignore me, it hurts you. If you don't love me, you love your own demise."
Recap: Chapter 8 is a personification of Wisdom. There's a whole list of its attributes as well as the claim that Wisdom was present before creation, and after it took delight in the creation and in Mankind.
Part Two: John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
vs 4-14: John was sent by God to testify to the man who was the Light of Man that shines in the darkness. Some people believed this guy, some didn't. The ones that did, he gave the right to become children of God
14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
vs 15-18: John said the Word dwelt among folks and was full of grace and truth, and that this person of grace and truth is the Person of Jesus.
Recap: John opens talking about how "the Word" was with God during creation, and that it was God. It claims that "the Word" had both presence and a hand in creation. "the Word" then became a man full of grace and truth. John finally says that Jesus was the one full of grace and truth, and that his life made the glory of the Father known.
Part 3: The connection
Part 1: Wisdom personified and portraying itself to man, one of the main things it focuses on is that it was present for and had a role in creation (1/3 of the chapter sits on this).
Part 2: The first thing John does is talk about "the Word"'s presence and role in creation. Followed by the declaration that the Word became flesh in the form of Jesus.
Connection: Wisdom personified has presence and role in creation, and the Word has presence and role in creation. the Word is incarnate as Jesus. So moving backwards, Jesus is the personification, embodiment, incarnation of Wisdom.
Part 4: Implications
For Jesus: Ok, Jesus is wise. Duh, he's Jesus. But previously, that's pretty much the extent of the logic. But now its beyond that. And it actually has something of a basis in text instead of just well he's supposed to be wise because hes Jesus. He's not just wise. He's the physical manifestation of Wisdom. That's kind of crazy.
For Proverbs: Ok, Proverbs. Wise sayings. Is it more than that? If Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom, then everything in Proverbs that describes wisdom, doesn't just describe wisdom, it says something specific about the personal character of Jesus. All the places where wisdom addresses man, is a look at Jesus heart as he speaks to us. Each place where wisdom cautions someone to do or not to do something, is insight to the very things that Jesus urges us to or away from. It's no longer a collection of good advice. It's both an exposition of Jesus character and a snapshot of the heart that he has for us (take a look at the summary of Proverbs 8:4-21 again through that lens).
Final Recap: Jesus isn't just wise, he is the complete epitome of wisdom. Proverbs isn't just good advice, its a breakdown of who Jesus is, and his vision for the lives of those that really seek to follow him. I haven't landed on any actual solid implications of this other than its really cool, and adds some force to the teachings in proverbs and understandings of J.
and since this is already ridiculously long, couldn't hurt to add this too. this song is bomb.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtaHywIx2Fg
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
When you feel the dark inside you
and the wind and waves keep pushing you down
Feel the whole world pulling you around
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
When you feel the dark inside you
and the moon and stars don't lead you nowhere
Feels like no one's watching up there
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
Let me be the one.....standing when you come
Lay your anchor down and let me wrap my arms around you
Let me me be your lighthouse
Let me guide your hand
Let me be your shelter
For you...for you I stand
For you I stand
For you I ... stand
Here's to random things spurring lengthy discourses. Amen.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
"Jesus already gave them the authority to cast out demons. In light of this, the disciples waking up Jesus in the storm becomes less of an act of "trusting in him" and more of an act of cowardice. Perhaps the appropriately bold response to the situation showing that they believed and trusted in Jesus would be to act like they didn't think he was lying when he told them they could cast out demons. And do it."
Ghana: The Parable.
Starting at orientation as a team we acknowledged we thought God wanted to teach us something about being and forming a sense of "genuine community". We also acknowledged we didn't really know what it would look like for us to do that and be that for each other. We often prayed that God would motivate us and push us and stir up initiative towards each other. And for the first 4.5 weeks or so, (to overgeneralize a bit) that's all we did. We seemed to be missing a sense that if God was calling us into a deeper experience of community, that that would require some sort of action on our part in how we relate to each other, and that he would provide for the things he called us to. He told us to be community. We prayed for him to do his part in that. We didn't act like we thought he'd do his part. The last week and a half we started to get the picture and take more steps to grow together. The amount of change we saw from that short period was kinda ridiculous.
"You of little faith. I told you you could cast out demons. Instead of casting out demons, you ran to me to save you."
"You of little faith. I told you to be community. Instead of being community, you kept asking me to hand you a community."
Leader's Retreat: Acts 1 is ridiculous.
"Jesus when are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel? When do we benefit from what you do?"
"It's not going to be me, and it's not going to be Israel. It's going to be you and you're going to restore the world. You're going to do it by being my witnesses. You will serve the familiar, the enemies, and the unknown. You will do it inclusively and indiscriminately."
Similar theme. They expect Jesus to do it. Jesus tells them that him doing it means THEM DOING IT, in his name. What's crazier here though is that they actually do it. This is a ridiculous call for a handful of guys. But this time, they do it. And here we are today. This is ridiculous. Absolutely nuts.
Ghana: The Parable.
Starting at orientation as a team we acknowledged we thought God wanted to teach us something about being and forming a sense of "genuine community". We also acknowledged we didn't really know what it would look like for us to do that and be that for each other. We often prayed that God would motivate us and push us and stir up initiative towards each other. And for the first 4.5 weeks or so, (to overgeneralize a bit) that's all we did. We seemed to be missing a sense that if God was calling us into a deeper experience of community, that that would require some sort of action on our part in how we relate to each other, and that he would provide for the things he called us to. He told us to be community. We prayed for him to do his part in that. We didn't act like we thought he'd do his part. The last week and a half we started to get the picture and take more steps to grow together. The amount of change we saw from that short period was kinda ridiculous.
"You of little faith. I told you you could cast out demons. Instead of casting out demons, you ran to me to save you."
"You of little faith. I told you to be community. Instead of being community, you kept asking me to hand you a community."
Leader's Retreat: Acts 1 is ridiculous.
"Jesus when are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel? When do we benefit from what you do?"
"It's not going to be me, and it's not going to be Israel. It's going to be you and you're going to restore the world. You're going to do it by being my witnesses. You will serve the familiar, the enemies, and the unknown. You will do it inclusively and indiscriminately."
Similar theme. They expect Jesus to do it. Jesus tells them that him doing it means THEM DOING IT, in his name. What's crazier here though is that they actually do it. This is a ridiculous call for a handful of guys. But this time, they do it. And here we are today. This is ridiculous. Absolutely nuts.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Crazy.
Jesus Calms the Storm(Mark 4). A theory.
The Summary:
Jesus preaches to folks. It's getting dark. Jesus wants to go to the Gentile region. He falls asleep. A crazy storm kicks up on the way. The disciples get worried. They wake up Jesus. He calms the storm. He points out their fear and questions their faith. They're filled with awe.
The Question:
What about the disciples response to the situation suggested a lack of faith?
How could they have responded differently to be found faithful?
The Theory:
They should have calmed the storm themselves.
The three legs of the theory:
1)The storm was demonic in nature.
2)The Disciples would have known this.
3)Faith is associated with action, rooted in belief in Jesus.
The Elaboration:
1)The most striking picture we see of Jesus interacting with demons is in Mark 1:21-28. It plays out like this:
Jesus was teaching.
A demon possessed person comes and makes a commotion.
Jesus rebukes the demon.
The people were amazed at his authority.
Mark 3:11-12 also add that when demons saw him
They cried out and fell down before him.
He charged them to be quiet.
These two passages bear a striking resemblance to the sequence of events seen at the calming of the storm in Mark 4.
Jesus was teaching. He leaves.
The storm comes and goes crazy.
Jesus rebukes the storm
Same Greek word (to muzzle) as in Mark 2: rebuking the demon.
The waves of the storm fall down and are quieted.
The people are amazed at his authority.
Could the parallel structure Mark uses in describing the casting of a demon and the calming of the storm suggest demonic origins for the storm?
Other misc. subtleties that might point this direction:
The disciples are fishermen, they know the sea. They aren't going to
sail into a storm at night in a fisher's boat. They know better.
There are other boats with them when they leave. A whole group of
boats aren't going to sail into a storm at night.
The sea isn't THAT big. They probably wouldn't have been on the
water all that long.
This suggests that the storm wasn't there when they started, and
became very violent, very quickly.
It's interesting that there's no more mention of the other boats.
This suggests that they turned back, got rocked, the storm was
too big to have any concept of them, some other misc. option.
They we're headed to preach in the gentile region for the first time.
Seems like an appropriate time for some opposition.
A quick glance through the rest of the gospels shows that whenever
Jesus life is put in danger, Satan usually has a hand in it.
(In the wilderness, Judas, in the Garden, etc.)
The main parable before this (soils) deals significantly with Satan
stealing the word from people, and from faith being choked by
trials and tribulations.
2)I read somewhere (it'd probably be helpful to find out where but whatever that the culture of the time of this event viewed night storms as oppressive spiritual activity. This being a cultural thing, combined with the above noted situational components, I submit that perhaps in the midst of the chaos, the disciples would have understood the situation through this lens; that is, they would have understood they were caught in the middle of a demonic attack.
3)This comes from the first time we see "faith" used in Mark, when Jesus heals the paralytic man based on seeing the faith of his friends. Faith was something he could see. Their actions were persistent, vigilant, and bold as they made a hole in someone's roof to get to Jesus because they were sure of his ability to heal their friend.
Tying It Together:
So assuming that the storm was demonic, and assuming the disciples knew this, what did they do? They asked Jesus to take care of it. But we see that in in the face of this response, Jesus points out that they have little faith. And so the original question arises. What could they have done differently that would have been characterized by persistence, vigilance, boldness, all rooted in belief in Jesus? REWIND. From Mark 4, to Mark 3:
vs. 13 "And he went up into the hills, and called to him those whom
he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons..." (RSV)
Jesus already gave them the authority to cast out demons. In light of this, the disciples waking up Jesus in the storm becomes less of an act of "trusting in him" and more of an act of cowardice. Perhaps the appropriately bold response to the situation showing that they believed and trusted in Jesus would be to trust him that they could do what he had already told them they could do. And do it.
Coming Soon:
How this relates to
Ghana: The Parable.
Leaders Retreat: Acts 1 is ridiculous.
Matthew 14: Walking on Water.
The Summary:
Jesus preaches to folks. It's getting dark. Jesus wants to go to the Gentile region. He falls asleep. A crazy storm kicks up on the way. The disciples get worried. They wake up Jesus. He calms the storm. He points out their fear and questions their faith. They're filled with awe.
The Question:
What about the disciples response to the situation suggested a lack of faith?
How could they have responded differently to be found faithful?
The Theory:
They should have calmed the storm themselves.
The three legs of the theory:
1)The storm was demonic in nature.
2)The Disciples would have known this.
3)Faith is associated with action, rooted in belief in Jesus.
The Elaboration:
1)The most striking picture we see of Jesus interacting with demons is in Mark 1:21-28. It plays out like this:
Jesus was teaching.
A demon possessed person comes and makes a commotion.
Jesus rebukes the demon.
The people were amazed at his authority.
Mark 3:11-12 also add that when demons saw him
They cried out and fell down before him.
He charged them to be quiet.
These two passages bear a striking resemblance to the sequence of events seen at the calming of the storm in Mark 4.
Jesus was teaching. He leaves.
The storm comes and goes crazy.
Jesus rebukes the storm
Same Greek word (to muzzle) as in Mark 2: rebuking the demon.
The waves of the storm fall down and are quieted.
The people are amazed at his authority.
Could the parallel structure Mark uses in describing the casting of a demon and the calming of the storm suggest demonic origins for the storm?
Other misc. subtleties that might point this direction:
The disciples are fishermen, they know the sea. They aren't going to
sail into a storm at night in a fisher's boat. They know better.
There are other boats with them when they leave. A whole group of
boats aren't going to sail into a storm at night.
The sea isn't THAT big. They probably wouldn't have been on the
water all that long.
This suggests that the storm wasn't there when they started, and
became very violent, very quickly.
It's interesting that there's no more mention of the other boats.
This suggests that they turned back, got rocked, the storm was
too big to have any concept of them, some other misc. option.
They we're headed to preach in the gentile region for the first time.
Seems like an appropriate time for some opposition.
A quick glance through the rest of the gospels shows that whenever
Jesus life is put in danger, Satan usually has a hand in it.
(In the wilderness, Judas, in the Garden, etc.)
The main parable before this (soils) deals significantly with Satan
stealing the word from people, and from faith being choked by
trials and tribulations.
2)I read somewhere (it'd probably be helpful to find out where but whatever that the culture of the time of this event viewed night storms as oppressive spiritual activity. This being a cultural thing, combined with the above noted situational components, I submit that perhaps in the midst of the chaos, the disciples would have understood the situation through this lens; that is, they would have understood they were caught in the middle of a demonic attack.
3)This comes from the first time we see "faith" used in Mark, when Jesus heals the paralytic man based on seeing the faith of his friends. Faith was something he could see. Their actions were persistent, vigilant, and bold as they made a hole in someone's roof to get to Jesus because they were sure of his ability to heal their friend.
Tying It Together:
So assuming that the storm was demonic, and assuming the disciples knew this, what did they do? They asked Jesus to take care of it. But we see that in in the face of this response, Jesus points out that they have little faith. And so the original question arises. What could they have done differently that would have been characterized by persistence, vigilance, boldness, all rooted in belief in Jesus? REWIND. From Mark 4, to Mark 3:
vs. 13 "And he went up into the hills, and called to him those whom
he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach and to have authority to cast out demons..." (RSV)
Jesus already gave them the authority to cast out demons. In light of this, the disciples waking up Jesus in the storm becomes less of an act of "trusting in him" and more of an act of cowardice. Perhaps the appropriately bold response to the situation showing that they believed and trusted in Jesus would be to trust him that they could do what he had already told them they could do. And do it.
Coming Soon:
How this relates to
Ghana: The Parable.
Leaders Retreat: Acts 1 is ridiculous.
Matthew 14: Walking on Water.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Ghana Debrief: Abridged
1) Take time to remember where God has brought you from.
2) Jesus is the example.
3) Be grateful God let's you in on what he's got going on
4) Leaders serve. View leadership through the posture of servanthood.
5) Encourage the good, identify the sin.
6) God is full of grace and mercy.
7) Following Jesus is active.
8) Pray it. Go for it.
9)"Worship had become much like the campaign speeches of politicians in our own day. It was full of empty words, misrepresenting one's identity, purpose, and goals. For many, worship was saying the right things and looking good in the right places. There were too little connection between the prescribed religious patterns and matters of the heart, righteousness, and Yahweh's will. To God's perspective, it was meaningless. Unrepentant sacrifice is no sacrifice at all. It is masquerading. it is an attempt to coerce God to ignore our real identity and enable out unrighteous habits. Meetings, assmblies, and services to honor God are dishonoring when we do not live the righteousness God desires."
don't do this.
10) The call > the situation.
11) J's authority doesn't enable autonomy.
12) When you give, give to the Lord.
1 John 2.
2) Jesus is the example.
3) Be grateful God let's you in on what he's got going on
4) Leaders serve. View leadership through the posture of servanthood.
5) Encourage the good, identify the sin.
6) God is full of grace and mercy.
7) Following Jesus is active.
8) Pray it. Go for it.
9)"Worship had become much like the campaign speeches of politicians in our own day. It was full of empty words, misrepresenting one's identity, purpose, and goals. For many, worship was saying the right things and looking good in the right places. There were too little connection between the prescribed religious patterns and matters of the heart, righteousness, and Yahweh's will. To God's perspective, it was meaningless. Unrepentant sacrifice is no sacrifice at all. It is masquerading. it is an attempt to coerce God to ignore our real identity and enable out unrighteous habits. Meetings, assmblies, and services to honor God are dishonoring when we do not live the righteousness God desires."
don't do this.
10) The call > the situation.
11) J's authority doesn't enable autonomy.
12) When you give, give to the Lord.
1 John 2.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
4 months after reading through the minor prophets and "liking" them...i think i'm actually getting a concept of what they're actually about.
not so much in the "this book is written in this time, addressing these issues.." sense; moreso in the "wait...why is it that i ended up reading these out of nowhere..?" sense.
alot of it is exemplified in malachi 1.
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master.
If I am a father, where is the honor due me?
If I am a master, where is the respect due me?"
says the LORD Almighty.
goes on to talk about all the ways the people disresct Him, and all the ways that they try to justify it and call it something its not. basically all centered around this theme of His people not responding to Him the way that their names for him would indicate that they should. the people argue against his accusations. he has his rebuttles; they're airtight.He notes, by name, people who followed him righteously as reference points and contrasts those people with the general population. The behavior is clearly different. Exhorts them in chapter 3
6 "I the LORD do not change.
So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers
you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.
Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
it's basically a call exposing the hypocrisy. theres a reason we call God the things we do. when those things aren't backed up by how we actually respond to him in the ways we live we (as one so bluntly once put it) rape him of his glory.
1. we call him things
2. we don't mean them
3. he knows
4. he calls our bluff
5. we still make excuses about it
6. he gives us a chance to change how we interact with him
switching gears a little bit, but track the themes.
inductive study. gospel of mark.
john the baptists message: repent and confess for forgiveness
jesus message: repent and believe that the prophecy is fulfilled, the KOG is here.
common theme of repentance.
interesting: greek for repent is something like to have a change of mindset
another reoccuring theme through the beginning of jesus ministry is his interactions with scribes, pharisees, religious elite, perhaps... the churched, the leaders, the pastors. many of these encounters show them taking offense or incredulousness at some aspect of things jesus claims to be or be able to do. they rarely voice it. nonetheless he responds with something along the lines of "i'm going to do something crazy, so that you'll understand that i can do the things i say i can do (and am thus, who i say i am). "
i'm going to do something crazy, so you can change how you think about me. because i do this, repent. believe. prophecy is fulfilled. KOG is here. confess. there's forgiveness. respond to me, as though you actually believe that i am who i am.
tracking the themes? looking at God and living lives that challenge who he says he is isn't something that was reserved for israel. looking at jesus and living lives that challenge who he says he is isnt something that was reserved for pharisees. we often make the connection that "we are israel" or "we are the pharisees". But how often do we address that God is God. and that in light of us being israel or the pharisees, Gods rebuke to them stands for us. As does his offer to return to him. We're quick to call him god, father, lord, christ, savior, master, healer, comforter, the list goes on. What does my life call him? probably none of those.
what do i make of this? following God is an intensely serious thing. he has a reputation. we know his reputation, and should be a people that proclaim and protect it with integrity. when we don't, it should convict us like no other. i don't. it's starting to kinda convict me. only kinda tho. that reality...is a little bit more convicting. this is where repentance is supposed to happen.
not so much in the "this book is written in this time, addressing these issues.." sense; moreso in the "wait...why is it that i ended up reading these out of nowhere..?" sense.
alot of it is exemplified in malachi 1.
6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master.
If I am a father, where is the honor due me?
If I am a master, where is the respect due me?"
says the LORD Almighty.
goes on to talk about all the ways the people disresct Him, and all the ways that they try to justify it and call it something its not. basically all centered around this theme of His people not responding to Him the way that their names for him would indicate that they should. the people argue against his accusations. he has his rebuttles; they're airtight.He notes, by name, people who followed him righteously as reference points and contrasts those people with the general population. The behavior is clearly different. Exhorts them in chapter 3
6 "I the LORD do not change.
So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
7 Ever since the time of your forefathers
you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them.
Return to me, and I will return to you," says the LORD Almighty.
it's basically a call exposing the hypocrisy. theres a reason we call God the things we do. when those things aren't backed up by how we actually respond to him in the ways we live we (as one so bluntly once put it) rape him of his glory.
1. we call him things
2. we don't mean them
3. he knows
4. he calls our bluff
5. we still make excuses about it
6. he gives us a chance to change how we interact with him
switching gears a little bit, but track the themes.
inductive study. gospel of mark.
john the baptists message: repent and confess for forgiveness
jesus message: repent and believe that the prophecy is fulfilled, the KOG is here.
common theme of repentance.
interesting: greek for repent is something like to have a change of mindset
another reoccuring theme through the beginning of jesus ministry is his interactions with scribes, pharisees, religious elite, perhaps... the churched, the leaders, the pastors. many of these encounters show them taking offense or incredulousness at some aspect of things jesus claims to be or be able to do. they rarely voice it. nonetheless he responds with something along the lines of "i'm going to do something crazy, so that you'll understand that i can do the things i say i can do (and am thus, who i say i am). "
i'm going to do something crazy, so you can change how you think about me. because i do this, repent. believe. prophecy is fulfilled. KOG is here. confess. there's forgiveness. respond to me, as though you actually believe that i am who i am.
tracking the themes? looking at God and living lives that challenge who he says he is isn't something that was reserved for israel. looking at jesus and living lives that challenge who he says he is isnt something that was reserved for pharisees. we often make the connection that "we are israel" or "we are the pharisees". But how often do we address that God is God. and that in light of us being israel or the pharisees, Gods rebuke to them stands for us. As does his offer to return to him. We're quick to call him god, father, lord, christ, savior, master, healer, comforter, the list goes on. What does my life call him? probably none of those.
what do i make of this? following God is an intensely serious thing. he has a reputation. we know his reputation, and should be a people that proclaim and protect it with integrity. when we don't, it should convict us like no other. i don't. it's starting to kinda convict me. only kinda tho. that reality...is a little bit more convicting. this is where repentance is supposed to happen.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
City & Colour - Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Rose Royce - 1978)
City & Colour - Love Don't Live Here Anymore (Rose Royce - 1978)
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
When you lived inside of me
There was nothing I could conceieve
That you wouldn't do for me
Trouble seemed so far away
You changed that right away, baby
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
Love don't live here anymore
Just emptiness and memories
Of what we had before
You went away
Found another place to stay, another home
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
read as intended, reminded of the spirit of 'Dissatisfied' and all of its implications.
basically read from the opposite perspective, God speaking to me. rocked.
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
When you lived inside of me
There was nothing I could conceieve
That you wouldn't do for me
Trouble seemed so far away
You changed that right away, baby
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
Love don't live here anymore
Just emptiness and memories
Of what we had before
You went away
Found another place to stay, another home
You abandoned me
Love don't live here anymore
Just a vancancy
Love don't live here anymore
read as intended, reminded of the spirit of 'Dissatisfied' and all of its implications.
basically read from the opposite perspective, God speaking to me. rocked.
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