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.

always near

If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence and let the gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm. For when there is no battle for the gospel it rusts and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power. Therefore, nothing better can befall the gospel than that the world should fight it with force and cunning.

—Martin Luther

The world does actively fight the gospel; it is an offensive message to people that any, much less their best, effort is of no avail in securing reconciliation with God or righteousness before Him. The good news is that Jesus accomplished what no other person could, by his sacrifice reconciling us to God and qualifying us to receive his righteous life in exchange for our sin.

When I read the quote from Luther, my mind moved on through the world's reaction to the gospel (generally) to the world's reaction to me (specifically) as a Christian and the message that my life speaks.

Recently one of the men I work with was involved in a traffic accident. He was riding his motorcycle to work when someone turned directly in front of him. He now has one less motorcycle and one more broken leg than before. The results could easily have been more tragic, and although surgery may be required, he will heal all right, thankfully.

It is often said that people just don't see motorcyclists; in the past when I have ridden motorcycles, I've always assumed that not only do other drivers see me, they will try their best to hit me! I figured that such wariness was the biggest contribution to my own safety that I could make. In reflecting on this again recently, I came to realize that there is an analogy to be drawn in my Christian walk.

We learn from scripture, along with so much more, that we have an enemy in life. For safety's sake, a motorcyclist might think of other drivers as adversaries, but in the Bible we are told that Satan really is our adversary. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8.) I have known Christians who don't believe that there is a devil, even though the scriptures declare him real; there is danger for them and for me if I don't take seriously his cunning and scheming.

However, just as my wariness when riding a motorcycle does not guarantee my safety, the power to resist and overcome the schemes of the devil lies not in my efforts or resourcefullness but in God's protecting hand. His promise to never leave or forsake us, the fact that he, in the person of his son Jesus Christ, overcame the world, is safety that I can rest in by faith. My own awareness and God's protecting hand are seen in James 4: Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...

one of those days

Here in the Texas heat, it seems that the last several weeks have been characterized more by perspiration than inspiration, but today God has placed encouragement on my heart that I must share.

Yesterday, I kind of "hit bottom." In the evenings when I go home from work, I habitually turn on the news; if one wants encouragement, don't do this! I had sent a note of encouragement to a close friend; the response so far is silence. Candidly, he owes me no reply, but I'm disappointed. Vacation is over. The culmination of all of this, yesterday, was dejection, poor attitude, emotional fatigue. In short, I spent the day yesterday thinking of myself.

Today has been much better. It began with my brothers at my men's breakfast, spending time together in the word. But the even stronger shot in the arm, and I know it's God by his spirit whispering in my ear, came moments ago, in the form of the "random quote" that came up when I looked:

It is not after we were reconciled by the blood of his Son that God began to love us, but before the foundation of the world.

—John Calvin

The next time you have "one of those days," remember that it really is one of those, like every other: God loves you dearly, warts and all.

being back

I recently alluded to the fact of my family's summer vacation. One of the things that inevitably happens when we return from such a trip is that we get cranky because we are not still gone! I guess it is typical human behavior to complain along with, or rather than, thanking God for his provision of rest and enjoyment along with other blessings. With this in mind, I thought I'd share the comment made by my wife yesterday morning (our first day back) as we prepared for work:

I need some altitude, but I suspect I'll just have attitude.

indescribable

Last year, while on a camping trip, I did a post entitled "know who did it," speaking of God and His creative genius. During my vacation in Colorado, I have been thinking of His creation again--it is difficult not to as I am surrounded by beauty: Here at Leadville, I am staring out the window of my RV at Mt. Elbert and Mt. Massive, Colorado's two tallest peaks, and the hummingbirds are just going nuts around the feeder hanging just outside. Earlier, when we had to refill it, I took it out to hang it back up and a hummingbird flew up and began feeding while I was still holding it!

I have been musing on how awesome God's creation is, and I began thinking of how to express it. Then I began to realize that to call God and His creation awesome, matchless, or for that matter any other description I could come up with is to limit Him to the bounds of the creation within which we live. For to describe something is to bound it, to limit our field of view of it, and God is truly indescribable, as is His creation.

God is infinite in all of His attributes, including His love and faithfulness. Knowing this should bring great comfort and encouragement to us. George Muller put it this way in his autobiography:

Those who trust in the Lord will never be disappointed. ...If we were to lean upon man, we would surely be disappointed; but in leaning upon the living God alone, we are beyond disappointment and beyond being forsaken for any reason.

again I say

I'm reminded of Philippians 3:1, where the apostle Paul writes, "Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you." Now, what made me think of this verse is the phrase to write the same things to you again. For today my thoughts return to a topic that I've written about several times before--the stuff of one's relationship with God.

God speaks to us through his word; we speak to God through prayer. This basic expression of the personal relationship with God is easy to state and understand, but for many if not most Christians, it is difficult to practice. I struggle myself with the discipline needed to daily open the word and my mind to it. Prayer can easily decline to a selfish listing of wants rather than intimate communion with a friend. Perhaps that is why I felt compelled to write this short blurb, again, when I saw this statement from Hudson Taylor:

Do not have your concert first, and then tune your instrument afterwards. Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer, and get first of all into harmony with Him.

can't or can't hardly?

I remember when, as a child, I would get frustrated and say, "I can't..." My dad invariably would respond with, "Can't or can't hardly?" I'd cry out, "I can't do this!" and he would say, "Can't or can't hardly?" I might say, "I can't wait!" and there he would be replying, "Can't or can't hardly?" It was maddening, but I would realize that in almost every instance my frustration did not come from inability but impatience.

Lately I have been musing over occasions which cause me to say, "I can hardly wait." At this time of year, a big one is family vacation. I look forward to getting away from routine, into the mountains, out of the heat. I like to travel anyway, and my friends know that I'd be gone all the time were it not for little, insignificant things such as having to work for a living, high fuel prices, etc.

I have a close friend who lives in Tucson, and we both look forward to being able to get together on a vacation trip. We've camped together in the past, but the last time was five years ago, and we "can hardly wait" to do so again. Looking forward to getting together isn't so much for the vacation or the camping, even though we both enjoy those; it is for the reunion because we love each other as friends and brothers in Christ.

Lately I've been convicted that, while I have [truthfully] said, "I can't wait for Jesus to come back!" it is not the same kind of yearning. I commented on this to another friend over coffee this morning, and he referred to Jesus' return as [the beginning of] the ultimate vacation; if I look forward to it through the lens of my own understanding (What will it be like?) as an eschatological topic, I won't yearn for it like I will seeing a brother again. But that's the key--I can hardly wait to be together with my closest brother, Jesus! (See Romans 8:29-20, Hebrews 2:9-13.) As A. W. Tozer said,

It is precisely the "yearning" and the "fainting" for the return of Christ that has distinguished the personal hope from the theological one. Mere acquaintance with correct doctrine is a poor substitute for Christ, and familiarity with New Testament eschatology will never take the place of a love-inflamed desire to look on his face.

extraordinary days

The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children.

—G.K. Chesterton

My wife and I married 28 years ago today. I adore her, and although we, like most people, have had ups and downs, our life together has been and is wonderful. Along the way, it got substantially better when through Christ, God drew me back into relationship with himself. I can almost reach out and touch the difference in my relationships with my wife, my kids, indeed, all the people in my life, made when Jesus Christ is at the center of my own life.

Every day is an extraordinary day when one walks with the Lord. We are ordinary people, an ordinary family, but we are useful in God's hands. That is not a statement about us but about God--join me in praising him and glorifying him, today.

care and feeding

I love to teach, and so far in my life I've had any number of opportunities to do so. I worked as an instructor for a computer company about twenty years ago, but the most memorable and rewarding opportunities I've had were at my church, sharing with others from the word of God. Not only were there huge blessings in guiding others in the word, but God used those times mightily in my life, teaching me his word.

I remember that one struggle that I continually dealt with was the temptation to let any preparation for a class supersede or replace my own personal study and quiet times with the Lord. I had early recognized a difference in preparing to teach and daily devotional reading of the word. I could never quite put my finger on the difference until I read this comment from C. S. Lewis:

A man can't be always defending the truth; there must be a time to feed on it.

That helped me greatly because it not only asserted the necessity of personal time in the word apart from class preparation, but somehow I also sensed a warning to be certain I was defending the truth rather than my beliefs. Of course, my heart's desire is that I know and believe the truth, and that where the personal time in the word comes in.

Even when not teaching, attending a class is no substitute for private, personal time in the word. As beneficial as the class is, reading and studying together with others, discussing, learning from one another, it can't replace the bringing of an open heart and teachable mind to a loving personal God in his word.

I'm not doing any teaching right now, and that is a mixed blessing. It is good in a way to have a rest (and continue to feed on the word,) but I pray that God will sometime, somewhere, open a teaching opportunity for me and then push me to serve his people that way.

a quote of the day

I don't usually post quotes without comment since I blog to share thoughts in me stirred by various quotes, or else the thoughts I had which brought a certain quote to mind. However, I thought I'd share this from Charles Spurgeon unencumbered.

You cannot preach conviction of sin unless you have suffered it. You cannot preach repentance unless you have practiced it. You cannot preach faith unless you have exercised it. True preaching is artesian; it wells up from the great depths of the soul. If Christ has not made a well within us, there will be no outflow from us.

my life?

We started a new sermon series at my church yesterday, on the parables of Jesus. It began with a great discussion about new wine in old wineskins. I don't remember if the pastor used these exact words necessarily, but I came away with the thought that Jesus does not want to be a part of my life--he wants to be my life, if I'll let him! It brought this quote to mind.

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all cost, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. (This includes meeting the needs of your heart.) One individual life may be of priceless value to God's purposes, and yours may be that life.

—Oswald Chambers

you too can be unpopular

Among my earliest memories are times at church with my mother and sister, and in particular I remember quite a number of Bible verses that I memorized. (Cool--I must have really memorized them!) Among countless gifts from God is a pretty good memory, and one of the verses I remember is Proverbs 27:6. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

I must confess that most of the times in my life that I have meditated on this verse, it has been from the standpoint of the recipient of the wounds or kisses, as the case may be. Recently, however, the tables have turned and my thoughts have tended to my choice of giving the wounds or kisses. On a number of occasions that I can think of, I'm afraid that my dealings with people in my life have been more on the order of deceitful kisses than faithful wounds. The interactions that I am thinking about were not overt deceitfulness but subtle complacency--at their core, just plain selfishness.

What has brought this line of thinking about is not the verse in Proverbs but another passage of scripture. I have mentioned in the past (several times, I believe) that I breakfast with a close-knit group of men on Thursdays for Bible study, fellowship, support and accountability. Several weeks ago, we began reading the book of Galatians together. Early on, Galatians 1:10 leaped out at me.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

The last sentence in particular seized my attention, for the apostle Paul seems to set in direct opposition the pleasing of people with serving the Lord. I think that most of us try to please people around us, especially those that we call friends. We like to see those people closest to us happy. But Paul teaches, in essence, "I can either please people or be a servant of Christ."

The error (seeking to please people) is very subtle and is easy to wrap in a veneer of "Christian virtue." But Jesus' command is "Love one another, as I have loved you." As C. S. Lewis said,

Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.

Viewing this through the lens of Proverbs 27:6, sometimes the choice is whether to love or please someone. Looking back, I think that sometimes my motivation to "please" a person was fear of being hurt myself. However, Jesus loves me perfectly and will not leave me, so the step of faith is to love people with his love, seeking the loved person's good even if it hurts.

We certainly don't want to set out to wound a friend, but choosing to do what is in a person's best interests may be painful. It may be easier to do what seems to please everyone, but how often do we recognize, let alone believe, that the more popular path consists of the actions of an enemy rather than a friend?

grand funk (with apologies to rockers everywhere)

It seems that quite a few people in my life are particularly burdened these days. It seems more and more common to hear a comment like, "I've been in a funk lately." If you're hoping for something profound from me about this... Sorry! But you know me and my quotes, and as I [this morning] encountered even more who seemed listless and fatigued in so many ways, several quotes and the associated rabbit trails of thought came to mind.

First and foremost, I identify. I've had some particular struggles for a while now; I know and understand some of the things that have brought on these struggles in me, but there are other feelings I have but don't really know why. As a result, when I read scripture it seems dry and vague; when I pray I think that I sense distance between me and God. When I figuratively stand aside and look at me, it kind of sticks out that my relationship with God is under assault! This just serves to illustrate why it is so crucial to base my relationship with him on the truth of the word rather than my experience. I must continually remind myself of this; even when my experience might suggest otherwise, the truth from his word is that his love for me is never-ending and never fails. His wisdom in guiding my life is implicitly perfect and trustworthy. His power and faithfulness to deliver on what he has promised cannot be thwarted or denied. On these bases, I read and I pray; this morning I thought about the great expositor Matthew Henry, who said

When I can not enjoy the faith of assurance, I live by the faith of adherence.

At my church, we have taught for many years that feelings and emotions are not trustworthy to base decisions and life choices on. I think that some heard that feelings and emotions are bad, but this is not what was intended. Rather, my life, my walk with God, is based on the truth of the word, and so I walk on, regardless of how I feel.

Abraham Lincoln said,

To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own.

This verbalizes the other thought I had: What an opportunity to serve when I encounter someone who is struggling! And while I might ultimately desire to help someone let go of a burden, my best service is not necessarily to preach or give answers but to laugh with, cry with, live with, love on my neighbor! Jesus is the great physician; I by his power want to render service that is useful in lifting that funk. Consistent with Lincoln's comment, I see in me the forgetting of struggles when God opens opportunities to serve and I focus on the needs of others. So often the best service is genuineness and open, willing fellowship.

In my own case, I'm amazed at how God has repeatedly, in the midst of simple fellowship with his people, revealed Himself to be the solution to the "struggle of the day." Most frequently that has taken the form of something being said that takes my mind back to specifics in the scriptures. All the while I thought I was serving the other person!

If you're feeling burdened, strugglilng, in a funk, take heart; walk on in your relationship with God, no matter how it "feels." Love on the people God has placed in your life, and don't be surprised when he uses your service to bless you.

bragging on God

Tomorrow my daughter leaves on a short-term mission trip to Russia. This will be her second trip there, and to say that I am very proud of her would be understatement. However, I am always mindful that she is the fabulous young lady that she is because of God and the way He has gifted her. Now thereby hangs a tale.

This morning as I sat eating breakfast, she came in and sat down with me. During the course of our conversation she mentioned that she needed to come up with a devotional for the [Russia] team. You see, the team does a devotional together each day during the trip, and each team member leads at least one of those sessions. Predictably, I began thinking of what I might do if the assignment was mine. After a moment, my mind went to Psalm 34:1-3:

I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.

O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.

I talked to her about verse 3 in particular, where in the New American Standard Bible it is rendered "O magnify the Lord with me." (In the New International Version, is says, "Glorify the Lord...") What does it mean to "magnify the Lord?" Make God bigger? When one looks at the moon through a telescope, the moon doesn't get bigger--we see it bigger. And I think that's what the psalmist meant--glorify the Lord, see Him bigger, as big as he truly is. Too often we look at God through the eyes of our own understanding, and so we'll always see him too small. Let me mention a quote here that I've mentioned before:

If God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.

—Evelyn Underhill

But verse 2 was the nugget for me this morning; the psalmist said, "My soul will make its boast in the Lord." I'm proud of both of my kids, but they're God's kids first, and they are fine people not because of me but because of the way he made and gifted them. Praise Him!

from another father to one

You may or may not have been aware that I have a son who has been serving with the Army in Iraq. Upon discovering this, many would ask me how I was doing, whether or not I worried, was I stressed, etc.

I would respond that the fact of my son choosing to be in harm's way (and he did choose it) changed nothing for me; I have long been comfortable with the fact that protection for my loved ones can only come from God and not from any effort (or worry) of mine. The dangers my son faces may seem more imminent, but witness the tragic events that can occur "at home," such as the Virginia Tech shootings a year ago. What, or better, where is safe?

It would be a lie to say I did not worry, but my faith in Jesus Christ and trust in God's sovereignty have allowed me to be at peace with the circumstances of life, even if and when I don't understand the events that occur. Even if tragedy struck, I would want my response to be to praise and thank God for his grace and love.

Benjamin B. Warfield said,

A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution of all earthly troubles.

Some might hear that and say, "Well, you don't understand my problems!" or "You'd be saying something different if..." Warfield understood; his wife was paralyzed soon after their marriage. Even so, he cared for her throughout their 39 years of marriage, and he remained a yielded, faithful servant of God. Read about him here.

Today, I praise and thank God for protecting my son, who I spoke with last night. He is back in this country, this tour of duty coming to an end, and he should be home this weekend. So, from just another human father to the one Father of all, who loves me as if there were no other, so much that he didn't spare his own son, and indeed he loves all with that same boundless love, praise and glory to you, Lord.

not "all alone"

The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.

—John Wesley

Satan watches for those vessels that sail without convoy.

—George Swinnock

When my wife and I first joined our church (over 18 years ago--wow, where has the time gone?) there was a large red banner across the back of the auditorium. The banner, in large white lettering, proclaimed Romans 12:5: So we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. I can still remember my disappointment when the banner was taken down. Recently I began to ponder this verse anew as the latest teaching series at church is a "One Another" series.

The Greek word translated as "one of another" is allēlōn, and I have always been amused that while the English pronunciation sounds somewhat like "all alone," the usage in context points in the opposite direction. Romans 12:5 speaks to our mutual need for each other in the body of Christ; each of us has a unique function within the body according to how God has made, has gifted, us. I'm afraid that some can read this and think something like, "Oh, my church job description!" This at best is an impersonal view of something intended to be very personal; we learn in Ephesians 4:16 that building each other, and ultimately the body, up in love is the goal.

But I have always thought of the banner, hence Romans 12:5, in terms of navigating daily life and how God never intended that I do that alone. Perhaps it isn't really an abuse of context since we are talking about [Christ's] body life. Particularly in the individualistic (can I just say selfish) society in which we live, it is so easy to forget or just plain ignore our need for each other; combine this with my human tendency to withdraw and isolate when problems are encountered, failures occur, etc. and I appreciate just how vulnerable I am!

The teaching series at church has been a great reminder. You may hear a series like that or else read a post like this one and just say, "I know that." But as Samuel Johnson said,

People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.

Remind me (again) and I'll remind you. Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

what do you look like?

Norman Rockwell was still producing cover art for the Saturday Evening Post when I was born. Even so, I have no direct memories of those magazine covers, yet I grew up hearing about Rockwell and his works and being familiar with many of them at an early age. One of my favorites has always been the work entitled "Triple Self Portrait." I remember being quite entertained by the difference in the image in the mirror versus what was being painted on the canvas.

We all have an idea of what we look like. The physical is easily confirmed (or denied!) by looking into most any available mirror (whether to our delight or dismay is another matter.) Similarly, we all have an idea of what we look like in character--who we are--but discovering the reality is a bit more difficult than the physical, and it is generally much more sobering. The reality consists in how others perceive us; as I've gotten older, I've come to realize that frequently others view me very differently from how I think of myself.

One of the great joys for a Christian is the realization that God knew exactly the person each of us was, warts and all, when Jesus died on the cross to secure for us forgiveness of sins, to redeem us, and to reconcile us to himself. That is the realization of God's love for us. For you. "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8.) Common in the experience of Christians, however, is that as God grows us and teaches us, we more and more see ourselves as God does, and that is disheartening to say the least. We increasingly see that not only do we fall short of the glory of God, we understand more and more how far short we fall! I can get pretty dejected when I think about this.

That is in essence looking backward; our focus should be that God loves us. Lay hold of the truth put forth in Leighton Ford's comment,

God loves us the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us that way.

If you know Jesus as lord and savior, it is God who has begun to work in you and he will complete what he started. And that work is to conform you to the image of his son--not how he looks but who he is.

and how long will you be staying?

I spent much of last Saturday with my CD collection. I've been ripping my music down to MP3 format with plans to build a music server. This just adds fuel to the fire when my friends refer to me as a geek.

No matter. One of my favorite artists from way back is Gordon Lightfoot, and even though I like his earlier works best, I own one of his later CD's which is entitled "A Painter Passing Through." I had not thought about this disc for a long time but again encountered it this weekend.

I've always enjoyed meditating on that album title; I identified with it in a certain sense. A Painter Passing Through. I don't consider myself an artist of any kind, but I love to reflect on the notion that I'm passing through. I think of passages of scripture such as in Philippians 3, where Paul reminds us that we are "citizens of heaven." That notion, along with pondering Christ's return, helps me bear much frustration associated with living in this world.

Reflecting again on the Lightfoot album title, I was reminded of this quote:

The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves at home here on earth.

—Malcolm Muggeridge

Live daily with the joy that this is not all there is! Even though I need to be diligent in my pursuits and the discharge of my responsibilities, and there are all kinds of frustrations that can derail me (if I let them,) those things just don't stack up against God's promise in Christ of eternal life with him. That is abundant life that begins anew every day.

he is risen indeed

Those of you who know me well always pick on me when I call a passage of scripture "my favorite" since at one time or another I've said that about so many verses. So today, Easter Sunday, I want to share a favorite passage which one might not normally think of for Easter. I find it particularly moving today as Jesus himself addresses John in Revelation 1:17-18a. John writes,

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore..."

I love it. "I was dead"--past tense. "Behold, I am alive"--present tense--"forevermore..."

the right goal

The essence of temptation is the invitation to live independently of God.

—Neil Anderson

If temptation is an invitation, then one might think of sin as the acceptance of that invitation. This realization helps bring sharply into focus the fact that sinful living does not consist primarily of "performing wrong acts" but living with the wrong goal, or better, the wrong master.

This is not to say that sinful actions are not sinful; many (if not all) such actions are sinful not so much because of the act itself but because of the attitude underlying it: selfishness. To love someone as Jesus commanded is to seek that person's best interest regardless of consequence. Proper motivation for such love and service is understanding God's love and provision in Christ for me.

When I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior and confessed Jesus as Lord of my life, I died to my old master (sin) and became alive to my new master (righteousness.) I died to my old master (self) and I live for my new master (Christ.) This foundational truth permeates scripture, but I especially like 2 Corinthians 5:15 which says

...He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Looking back on my Christian life so far, I find that there were sinful acts that I used to but no longer engage in; however, they did not cease because of my efforts but because of God's efforts--Christ's life in me, teaching me, growing me, giving me proper focus. I am now able to not sin in those ways because I learned from God in Christ that he is trustworthy in those areas and I do trust him. In areas of my life where I have yet to learn to trust God, I still experience failure by living selfishly--or to put it bluntly, I still sin.

I find then, especially since all of my sins were dealt with at the cross, that to cease from sin is the wrong goal for me, indeed for any Christian. Whenever I have expended effort toward that end, I end up focussed on and mired in the sin. The right goal is to know God better and better; he reveals himself through his word, and as he enlightens me and I see that he is trustworthy in that area of my life too (whatever it is,) I live depending on him, and the behavior takes care of itself.

The key lies in knowing the truth and being set free by it. When a temptation whispers in my ear, I play it against the truth and believe and act on the truth.

Sin is still sin, and God's grace is not license to do anything one wants. With freedom comes responsibility. But being free means that I no longer have to worry about my worthiness (Christ is my worthiness.) I can joyfully focus on my relationship with God and the people he has placed in my life.

talking with a friend

The essence of a relationship is communication. Take a moment and think about your closest friends. How do you communicate with them? How do you talk to your closest friends?

The real Christian life consists of relationships. First and foremost, our relationship with God. Then, as we grow in our relationship with Him and He grows us in our walk, we learn how to have deep, meaningful relationships with others; we can love people as Jesus commanded (John 13:34-35) and serve them as Jesus demonstrated (John 13:12-15.)

Communication. God talks to us through his Word. We talk to God in prayer. I've seen and heard a lot about prayer lately, and some of it is just weird. Are you uncomfortable comparing how you talk with a close friend to how you talk with God? I'm not suggesting that reverence be set aside and I'm not encouraging flippant informality, but I've thought a great deal about my prayer life lately and I see that it has changed from ritualistic and stiffly formal when I was younger to a continual, intimate conversation today. The author of Hebrews reminds us to come confidently, or boldly, before the throne of grace.

Jesus' disciples asked him to teach them to pray. Today he by his spirit continues to teach us to pray if we listen (Romans 8:26.) Do not despair if talking to God seems awkward; Gordon MacDonald said

Why do so many people have struggles when it comes to prayer? ... Men and women were originally created to desire communion with God. But the effects of sin have dulled most of that original human desire. Sin turned a natural activity into an unnatural function.

It is not prayer that we should reverence but God. It gets easier to talk to him as you get to know him better. Grow in your relationship with God by listening to him through Bible study--he'll reveal himself to you.

Those who know God the best are the richest and most powerful in prayer. Little acquaintance with God, and strangeness and coldness to Him, make prayer a rare and feeble thing.
--E. M. Bounds

greater love

My friend Mike, in a recent post, apologized for several days of absence. I have to apologize for a month, and I really haven't been nearly as busy as Mike! However, life happens, and the time gets away if we're not careful to live each day intentionally.

My thoughts today are fairly simple. God has lately been loving on my family like crazy with his blessings. My son is home on leave from his service in Iraq and is doing well. My daughter has been spear-heading the formation of a chapter of a Christian fellowship sorority at her college; I don't know who is more excited, her or me! The presence or absence of such blessings does not measure God's love for us; indeed, God loves us beyond our comprehension, a fact which in unto itself is one complete expression of his character.

Jesus commands us to love each other as he has loved us (John 13:34,35.) His love might be most evident in his accomplishment on earth 2000 years ago, but the depth of his love is daily before me as he cares for me, my family, indeed, all his children. Let us strive for that level of devotion to the people God places in our lives. As Clarence Jordan said,

The measure of a Christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love.

election year

I can't resist. I know that this is quite an aside from what I usually share here, but this being a big election year, and the media assault already being well underway, I just have to share this quote. It seems apropos.

A lie goes half way around the world before the truth can get its pants on.

—Winston Churchill

success

I've been trying (unsuccessfully until now) to write this post for several weeks now. It started when I came across this from Wilbur Chapman:

Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it.

You see, there are several different directions to consider this thought from. An obvious application is to turn away from sin or any empty, unprofitable pursuit. Less obvious is the need to cease (or at least suspend for a time) otherwise good things which we replace God with in our lives. Sometimes good things can be the obstacle to our faith if improperly motivated or done for selfish reasons. Therein lies the difficulty I've had with this post.

In Chapman's quote, there's the phrase "...makes Christian work difficult, ..." My dilemma is that sometimes Christian work is the problem. This is not to say that the work in itself is bad; I'm talking about the attitude with which the work is done. Hopefully that distinction is clear.

The other thing that made this post difficult is that it hit home with me; God has been pruning in my life and some of the things he is showing me that need to go are a few of my involvements at my church! In unto themselves, these involvements are good but they are obstacles to my walk with God, ultimately, because I am not doing them depending on Christ for the power. As such, these activities are not fruitful in God's eyes and are burdens (rather than blessings) to me.

Just as I have prayerfully considered these things in my life, let me caution you not to rationalize away your ministries in a church body or in the lives of people that God has placed into your life. Let us look at every aspect of our lives through the lens of the Word; consider John 15:4, where Jesus says

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither you unless you abide in Me.

Success in God's eyes, a fruitful life, is a life in which every activity finds it's basis in trusting him.