provocation

In Acts 17, it is recorded that the apostle Paul's "spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city [Athens] full of idols." Although I have no wish to compare the two, I had an experience earlier today that reminded me of this wording from verse 16 (NASB.)

As we are prone to do, my wife and I went on a brief (overnight) trip and returned today. We were driving the speed limit (70 mph) in the right lane of the interstate highway, and the traffic was very heavy. The "fast" lane, the left lane, stacked up and had to slow down, and it slowed to a solid line of cars and trucks that, even at their reduced speed, was still passing us.

I don't always like the speed limits set on various roads or necessarily agree with them, but it is a biblical principle that we obey civil laws unless they contradict obedience and worship of God. I therefore routinely try to be attentive to the speed limits and obey them when I drive, and it distresses me when I'm not only regularly but frequently passed when I am obeying the speed limit. I feel provoked when lights are flashed at me, I'm honked at, gestured at for... obeying the law? And I feel certain that a fair number of those drivers would say that they are Christians.

Now, let me hurriedly say that I realize that this could quickly sour into a self-righteous, judgmental anger; I certainly don't want to do that! My thinking tends not to pointing out error in others so much as to what messages we send, intentionally or not. Even though my spirit is provoked, I am distressed, at how easily and casually so many people [apparently] disregard the law, I have more than once, after a moment of inattention, found myself exceeding the speed limit, breaking that same law. Whether intentional or not, what message do I send to a watching world if someone, knowing the faith that I profess, happens to see me breaking the law of the land?

In Proverbs 3:6, we are told to acknowledge [God] in all of our ways. Dependence on and obedience to God needs to be primary in every area of my life. Join me as I reflect on this quote from Donald Soper, who said,

Christianity must mean everything to us before it can mean anything to others.

getting older

Several years before my dad passed away, I remember him saying that he daily reflected that it could be his last day. I knew that this had come about because of some recent health issues he had had, but I didn't quite know what to say. As so frequently happens, God put words into my mouth: "Well, dad, that's a fact that we all face." He muttered that sometimes something brings it from the back of our minds to the front.

I was reminded of this tonight as I sat at my house, trying to get warm. I have my feet on a heating pad--I especially have trouble getting and keeping my feet warm these days, along with lower legs and hands. I figure that perhaps this is an artifact of diabetes, with which I was diagnosed a little over a year ago. Now, I don't dwell on death because of this or for any other reason, but as I sit here aching and trying to get comfortable, it occurs to me that like everything else in this life, I need to think properly about the aches, pains, and changes in my body that seem to increase as I get older. Thinking properly in this case means knowing that these aches and discomforts are among the "various trials" spoken of in 1 Peter 1:6 (read it in context here.) I won't let them keep me from bearing fruit for the Lord by serving people according to whatever opportunity he opens before me.

Jesus defeated death--not only physical death, through his resurrection, but also spiritual death (separation from God,) when he accomplished reconciliation at the cross. As Dwight L. Moody said,

The valley of the shadow of death holds no darkness for the child of God. There must be light, else there could be no shadow. Jesus is the light. He has overcome death.

quotpourri

[kwoh-poo-ree, kwoh-poo-ree], a collection of miscellaneous quotations

If a church wants a better pastor, it can get one by praying for the one it has.

~Robert E. Harris

gift

There has been only one Christmas - the rest are anniversaries.

~W.J. Cameron

I don't know if Cameron was thinking of the advent of the Savior when he said this, but it certainly is where my mind went. In Isaiah 9:6 we read, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Most, when asked, would correctly answer that we celebrate a birth at Christmas, that of Jesus. Scripture tells us that not only was a child born but a son was given. The Son. Jesus.

This year, this season, this Christmas, this birthday, this anniversary of the giving of a son, the Son, if you don't know Jesus, then accept the greatest gift of all. In Matthew 11:28, he says, "Come to me..."

the giving of thanks

For the last several years, whether it be a blog post or teaching a class or leading a small group, I at Thanksgiving have shared the proclamation from George Washington that initiated the holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States. If you've never read it (or even if you have,) you can find it in my post from last Thanksgiving.

This year I feel a sense of quiet and contemplation, and my thoughts are on how flippant I think we can be when we offer thanks to God for his many blessings. I feel like I want to apologize to God for the many who seem to live independently and selfishlly through the year and then offer thanks on this particular day. I'm not saying that such thanksgiving is insincere--praise God that he knows the heart! I just don't want my thankfulness (or anyone else's) to be perfunctory.

It has been a busy fall for me and my family (as evidenced by the decreased frequency of my blog posts) and as we slow down a bit, I want to be, and to stay, mindful of God's hand in my life. This quiet time is a chance to reflect on him and how worthy he is of my trust.

For the rest of my life I'm going to trust that God is always at work in all things, and give him thanks long before my simplest prayers are answered.

- Nancy Parker Brummett

The next time you see me, ask me if I've given thanks today.

music for my soul

This morning I awoke and, after laying there for as long as my cat would let me, I got up. I ate, prepared a cup of hot tea, and turned on my stereo. I love music, and about the only time I just sit and listen is on Saturday mornings.

I really enjoy music of all kinds. I love music. On the rare occasion that I can just sit and enjoy it, I really get into it and it speaks to me. I'm not talking about anything mystical, but as Richard Dreyfuss' character in the movie Mr. Holland's Opus said, "Music [is] the language of emotion."

When I was a kid in school, my parents paid for guitar lessons for me, but I lacked the personal discipline to study, practice, and learn the basics. You see, God had given me "an ear for music," and so, rather than practicing and really learning to read and play music, I more or less ignored my instructor, and "picked out" each new song. I could hear it and then "play" what I heard. However, because I did not learn and develop the proper foundation, today I really can't play an instrument other than a stereo.

Even though I have regrets about not being able to "give" musically, I consider it a great gift to hear and appreciate music, to be moved by it, and I have often enjoyed discussing feelings evoked by this song or that. Even more, it is awesome to give praise to God for the musical talents he has bestowed on some of the people I know, such as both my kids, or my friends Tony, Billy, Eric, Wayne, and others.

Perhaps you're wondering where I am headed with this musing. Jesus told his disciples of something they had been given, and it kind of jumped out at me recently when I reread it. Today I quote my Lord, from Matthew 13:10-11:

And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted."

I have long known of and have heard from other believers about the hunger satisfied, the various emotions evoked, the need filled by reading the scriptures. And, of course, I've had others tell me they get nothing from reading the Bible. I don't remember thinking of that understanding (itself) as a gift, but it is. Certainly the Spirit by whom we understand is a gift.

Sometimes my music is playing and I'm not moved by it--it's just on. Sometimes I read my bible and there are just the words--I don't hear. But just as I sometimes let go, focus on the music, hear the meaning as well as the sound, God has granted to me (and to all believers) to know Him and what he has revealed in the words of scripture. All I have to do is listen--it's like music for my soul.

on pride (again)

Make a list of what you believe to be your strengths. Your gifts, talents. Things that you enjoy doing. Things that, when God lays it on your heart to serve someone, you would first think to do. If you are convinced that you know of a spiritual gift that God has blessed you with, be sure that you include it in your list.

Now, consider the list you have made. Do you know that it is also a list of your weaknesses? These are your greatest vulnerabilities because they are areas of life and experience where it is easiest to act independently of God. These are areas where you can quickly forget about Him, both in terms of depending on Him for the power and ultimately giving Him the glory. When someone thanks you for your service, or compliments your devotion, your human pride easily sneaks in to lap it up! Consider this statement by Augustine:

Other sins find their vent in the accomplishment of evil deeds, whereas pride lies in wait for good deeds, to destroy them.

God has recently been showing me areas in my life where, even if there was no overt pride felt or expressed, there were still "cracks in the character" where pride seeped in and motivated my responses to tests and trials, rather than the humility of mind that He desires. That I am shocked to find these weaknesses is telling of the depth of my need for Christ, even after He has grown me for these years.

Praise God for His love and patience with me! I figure that all of my life, most (if not all) of my struggles and failures will be traceable to pride. As C. S. Lewis said,

Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.