I once told my small group, when people were hesitant to pray out loud, "It's alright! There's no bad prayers!" My group purposely started praying prayers that proved my statement wrong. We can pray selfish prayers, materialistic prayers, hateful prayers, and so on. We can pray poor, unbiblical prayers.
Yet, just because a prayer is in the Bible doesn't mean that it is a good prayer to pray. There are examples of poor prayers in the Bible. It is possible to find "unbiblical" or "un-Christ-like" prayers within the pages of our Bibles.
The Bible does contain positive examples we would be benefited by emulating and commands that we are to obey. Other parts of the Bible have negative examples of things that happened, but should not have happened. There are lessons to be learned in what NOT to do.
In the Church, we sometimes hear prayers that should bother us. One such example, is to praise/thank God that we aren't suffering/persecuted like others mentioned in other prayer requests. A related prayer on a similar theme is to say, "I watch the news and I thank God that I live here."
Now, these kinds of prayers are technically in the Bible, but they are given as an example of what not to do. I'm talking about the Pharisee's prayer in Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee stood before God thanking Him that he wasn't like other people; whereas the tax collector asked for mercy, because he knew that he was a sinner.
These prayers break my heart, because in the moment I hear someone praying them, I do not see Christ's reflection in them. This is not to say that I'm doubting if someone is a Christian, but rather, that specific prayer is not Christ-like.
When we thank God that we were spared from a disaster and cite that sparing as evidence of His love for us, we need to ask ourselves what our prayers are indirectly implying about those who are suffering through the disaster. Maybe, we were spared from a disaster, so we could be SERVING and HELPING those who are suffering. That is living out Christ-like compassion.
You can be thankful you are happy with the nation in which you were born, but as soon as you connect your birthplace with a sign of God's favor, what does that imply about people living under corrupt regimes or in the midst of war? It implies that they are out of God's favor, which the Bible does not support.
If our prayers end with us just being thankful that we live in <place> or aren't suffering through <disaster>, than our prayers are too small. We SHOULD be praying for those who are suffering, as though we ourselves are suffering alongside them. We SHOULD find ways to serve and help those in the midst of disasters, because that is one of the main reasons we exist on this earth:
Reason 1. Glorify God.
Reason 2. Spread the Good News.
Reason 3. Help those who are suffering on the margins of society
We are clearly told throughout the New Testament to remember those in prison as though we were suffering with them. (see Hebrews 10:34 and Hebrews 13:3).
We are told to thank God for the good in our lives, but we are not told to thank Him that we aren't the ones suffering. We, as Christ-followers, are to expect to suffer. (see the book of Acts, Romans 5, Romans 8, 1 Corinthians 12:26, 2 Corinthians 1, Philippians 1, 2 Timothy 1-2, 1 Peter 2-4 for starters).
So let us pray for those who are suffering. Let us pray that we show compassion and mercy to those who are suffering. When we stretch our prayers in this way, we may discover that God uses these kinds of prayer to grow us and to draw us closer to Him.
Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Friday, November 29, 2019
When Our Priorities Grieve the Holy Spirit
I remember being floored back in April this year (2019). That was when the famous Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire in Paris, France. This came back to my mind recently as I read an update on how repairs to the cathedral were progressing.
People were grieved, crushed, and devastated by this unfortunate event, but the things that we weren't bothered by are events that probably grieved the Holy Spirit. Honestly, I think that the Holy Spirit was grieved by the response of the Church. We were so upset over a *building* that people were posting about it, donating to fix it, and raising awareness of this tragedy. Yet, we were largely silent regarding the world refugee crisis. We weren't donating to help asylum seekers at our door. We weren't raising awareness over human rights violations & violence happening in parts of Asia & Africa that were happening at the same time.
When we care more about buildings than lives being lost, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we care more about our safety & comfort than helping those trying to survive, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we aren't bothered by those who are fleeing violence & persecution, the Holy Spirit is grieved.
This should bother us, but we don't seem to be losing sleep over the children still detained in for-profit prisons within our borders. We don't seem impacted over the plight of the refugees or asylum-seekers. We aren't broken over those enslaved around the world & even in our own countries today.
So what needs to happen?
We need to change. We need to ask God to shift the priorities in our heart until our hearts match His. We should ask the Spirit to help us let go of the things that aren't important and focus our time, energy, and money on God's kingdom priorities.
May we be filled with a passion and a boldness for actually telling other people the Good News.
May we use the variety of news sources, not just to catch up on local or national news, but to pray over world events.
May we find ways to simplify our lives so we can give our time, talents, and money to help those on the margins of society.
May we be grieved and broken over the things that grieve the Spirit. And may we be moved to get involved to work towards righting injustices and interceding those who can't speak for themselves.
People were grieved, crushed, and devastated by this unfortunate event, but the things that we weren't bothered by are events that probably grieved the Holy Spirit. Honestly, I think that the Holy Spirit was grieved by the response of the Church. We were so upset over a *building* that people were posting about it, donating to fix it, and raising awareness of this tragedy. Yet, we were largely silent regarding the world refugee crisis. We weren't donating to help asylum seekers at our door. We weren't raising awareness over human rights violations & violence happening in parts of Asia & Africa that were happening at the same time.
When we care more about buildings than lives being lost, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we care more about our safety & comfort than helping those trying to survive, we grieve the Holy Spirit.
When we aren't bothered by those who are fleeing violence & persecution, the Holy Spirit is grieved.
This should bother us, but we don't seem to be losing sleep over the children still detained in for-profit prisons within our borders. We don't seem impacted over the plight of the refugees or asylum-seekers. We aren't broken over those enslaved around the world & even in our own countries today.
So what needs to happen?
We need to change. We need to ask God to shift the priorities in our heart until our hearts match His. We should ask the Spirit to help us let go of the things that aren't important and focus our time, energy, and money on God's kingdom priorities.
May we be filled with a passion and a boldness for actually telling other people the Good News.
May we use the variety of news sources, not just to catch up on local or national news, but to pray over world events.
May we find ways to simplify our lives so we can give our time, talents, and money to help those on the margins of society.
May we be grieved and broken over the things that grieve the Spirit. And may we be moved to get involved to work towards righting injustices and interceding those who can't speak for themselves.
Monday, November 11, 2019
What to Pray for Soldiers, and the Church in the US too
Another US holiday has rolled around, which means I get practice in the Discipline of Silence as patriotic talk increases in churches around Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans' Day.
As someone who has served on the mission field and has looked at the US from the outside, I have come realize that nationalism and patriotism is what is referred to as a "golden calf" inside some church leadership circles. It is something that may not quite line up with Scripture, but if someone suggests toning it down, or leaving it out of the worship service entirely, the leader who left it out will definitely be hearing multiple complaints. So many in leadership do not try to tear down this golden calf.
But I want to be real and open here on this blog today.
Folks, I struggle with these patriotic holidays being in the church, because I can't really see Jesus accepting praising the military in the temple or synagogues in His day & age.
Frankly, I wrestle with these holidays period. The only way that I can go along with them mildly is to create a parallel Christian allegory that I can get behind.
On Memorial Day, I take time to remember the martyrs of the Christian faith and the heroes of the faith who fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel to all peoples.
On Independence Day, I celebrate the freedom that I have through Christ, as He overcomes my earthly nature and tendencies.
On Veteran's Day, I freeze. I don't have a ready allegory to apply, yet even now I hear the Spirit nudging me to pray for soldiers. The Bible teaches that we are to pray for all people and that includes soldiers.
Now my prayers may look quite different from yours, but this is what I'm compelled to pray for soldiers:
1. I pray that they will find salvation in Christ alone.
2. I pray that they will obey God and His laws, over man's law, even if it means that they will be punished for disobeying man's law.
3. I pray that they will have the wisdom to know when to question & refuse to follow orders that would cause them to disobey God. I ask for courage and boldness in living this out.
4. I pray that they will live out Christ's commands to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.
5. I pray that they will find alternative, non-lethal ways to end violence and conflicts.
6. I pray that God will not leave them broken over the orders they have followed that caused them to end lives. I pray that when they regret and repent of their actions, they will find the reconciliation and redemption that God offers as they seek forgiveness.
7. I pray that they be welcomed by the Church, not as heroes who should be revered for using violence in the name of defense, but rather as prodigals who have wandered into dangerous ground for Christians, but have still walked in the doors of our churches.
I also pray for the Church in the US:
1. I pray that we recognize that we are praising people for using violence to end lives. This is not something to rejoice in.
2. I pray that we begin to mourn for the loss of lives, not just of our soldiers, but of the enemy soldiers as well. May we be grieved by all lives that are ended by weapons, especially those who aren't serving God.
3. I pray that we begin to pray consistently for our enemies. Pray that they encounter the living Christ. Pray that all soldiers turn from their wicked ways and begin to follow Jesus.
4. I pray that we see clearly the ways that our culture has set itself up on the altars of our churches to be worshiped and I pray that we tear down these altars as we fully pursue God.
5. I pray that the church will trust the mercy and grace of God as we are grieved over the ways that we have added nationalism to our religion, until we thought it was acceptable to serve and worship both God & country.
6. I pray that we will see clearly that to worship ANYTHING else in addition to God is idolatry. I pray that we will repent of the idolatry that allows us to see nothing wrong with elevating anything just below God.
7. I pray that we repent of viewing our military as purely good, fighting off other soldiers that we view as wholly evil. I pray that we recognize that war is a complex, ugly thing. That the soldiers on the other side could be protecting civilians that view us as evil attacking them. That soldiers on both sides can have a desire to defend what they view as good and noble. That soldiers on both sides are broken by the atrocities they were ordered to carry out.
I realize these are rough, raw prayers. They are not easy prayers with our eyes fixed on the ideal we hold of the military. These are prayers that dive below the surface-level conversations we have in regards to the military to the murky areas we don't like to think about. It is much more pleasant to look at the polished image presented on the pedestal, instead of the broken relationships and lives that are chewed up by the military machine, on both sides of all conflicts.
Even as I write these words, I recognize that they are words that I would not have the freedom to post without soldiers fighting to defend my way of life. As I have processed through the prayers that I CAN pray on this holiday, I realize that this should not be a day of rejoicing for Christians, but a day of mourning and lament.
I mourn that good, noble, honorable men are trained to end lives and return home with blood on their hands and pain in their hearts.
I lament that we are so quick to endorse and support violence instead of seeking alternative ways to reach peace.
I mourn that lives on both sides of conflicts were ended prematurely.
I lament that atrocities were committed by both sides in conflicts in the name of peace.
I mourn that we have created more effective ways of ending lives. Swords-->Guns-->Cannons-->Bombs-->Death Chambers-->Atomic Bombs-->Drone Strikes
I lament that civilians have suffered thievery, attacks, rapes, and death at the hands of soldiers on both sides of conflicts.
I mourn that we keep reaching for guns to solve our problems after seeing the devastation of world wars and conflicts throughout history.
These are the prayers that I am praying in the face of the ugliness of war. They may not be the pretty, sanitized prayers that we have grown accustomed to in churches in the US, but these are needed prayers, because people are broken by wars. They are coming home devastated and ashamed at the things they have seen and done. They need a church to offer them the real Way, Truth, and Light. They need a church, not to celebrate what has broken them, but to help them heal and repent, in order to find true Hope and Salvation in Christ.
As someone who has served on the mission field and has looked at the US from the outside, I have come realize that nationalism and patriotism is what is referred to as a "golden calf" inside some church leadership circles. It is something that may not quite line up with Scripture, but if someone suggests toning it down, or leaving it out of the worship service entirely, the leader who left it out will definitely be hearing multiple complaints. So many in leadership do not try to tear down this golden calf.
But I want to be real and open here on this blog today.
Folks, I struggle with these patriotic holidays being in the church, because I can't really see Jesus accepting praising the military in the temple or synagogues in His day & age.
Frankly, I wrestle with these holidays period. The only way that I can go along with them mildly is to create a parallel Christian allegory that I can get behind.
On Memorial Day, I take time to remember the martyrs of the Christian faith and the heroes of the faith who fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel to all peoples.
On Independence Day, I celebrate the freedom that I have through Christ, as He overcomes my earthly nature and tendencies.
On Veteran's Day, I freeze. I don't have a ready allegory to apply, yet even now I hear the Spirit nudging me to pray for soldiers. The Bible teaches that we are to pray for all people and that includes soldiers.
Now my prayers may look quite different from yours, but this is what I'm compelled to pray for soldiers:
1. I pray that they will find salvation in Christ alone.
2. I pray that they will obey God and His laws, over man's law, even if it means that they will be punished for disobeying man's law.
3. I pray that they will have the wisdom to know when to question & refuse to follow orders that would cause them to disobey God. I ask for courage and boldness in living this out.
4. I pray that they will live out Christ's commands to love their enemies and pray for their persecutors.
5. I pray that they will find alternative, non-lethal ways to end violence and conflicts.
6. I pray that God will not leave them broken over the orders they have followed that caused them to end lives. I pray that when they regret and repent of their actions, they will find the reconciliation and redemption that God offers as they seek forgiveness.
7. I pray that they be welcomed by the Church, not as heroes who should be revered for using violence in the name of defense, but rather as prodigals who have wandered into dangerous ground for Christians, but have still walked in the doors of our churches.
I also pray for the Church in the US:
1. I pray that we recognize that we are praising people for using violence to end lives. This is not something to rejoice in.
2. I pray that we begin to mourn for the loss of lives, not just of our soldiers, but of the enemy soldiers as well. May we be grieved by all lives that are ended by weapons, especially those who aren't serving God.
3. I pray that we begin to pray consistently for our enemies. Pray that they encounter the living Christ. Pray that all soldiers turn from their wicked ways and begin to follow Jesus.
4. I pray that we see clearly the ways that our culture has set itself up on the altars of our churches to be worshiped and I pray that we tear down these altars as we fully pursue God.
5. I pray that the church will trust the mercy and grace of God as we are grieved over the ways that we have added nationalism to our religion, until we thought it was acceptable to serve and worship both God & country.
6. I pray that we will see clearly that to worship ANYTHING else in addition to God is idolatry. I pray that we will repent of the idolatry that allows us to see nothing wrong with elevating anything just below God.
7. I pray that we repent of viewing our military as purely good, fighting off other soldiers that we view as wholly evil. I pray that we recognize that war is a complex, ugly thing. That the soldiers on the other side could be protecting civilians that view us as evil attacking them. That soldiers on both sides can have a desire to defend what they view as good and noble. That soldiers on both sides are broken by the atrocities they were ordered to carry out.
I realize these are rough, raw prayers. They are not easy prayers with our eyes fixed on the ideal we hold of the military. These are prayers that dive below the surface-level conversations we have in regards to the military to the murky areas we don't like to think about. It is much more pleasant to look at the polished image presented on the pedestal, instead of the broken relationships and lives that are chewed up by the military machine, on both sides of all conflicts.
Even as I write these words, I recognize that they are words that I would not have the freedom to post without soldiers fighting to defend my way of life. As I have processed through the prayers that I CAN pray on this holiday, I realize that this should not be a day of rejoicing for Christians, but a day of mourning and lament.
I mourn that good, noble, honorable men are trained to end lives and return home with blood on their hands and pain in their hearts.
I lament that we are so quick to endorse and support violence instead of seeking alternative ways to reach peace.
I mourn that lives on both sides of conflicts were ended prematurely.
I lament that atrocities were committed by both sides in conflicts in the name of peace.
I mourn that we have created more effective ways of ending lives. Swords-->Guns-->Cannons-->Bombs-->Death Chambers-->Atomic Bombs-->Drone Strikes
I lament that civilians have suffered thievery, attacks, rapes, and death at the hands of soldiers on both sides of conflicts.
I mourn that we keep reaching for guns to solve our problems after seeing the devastation of world wars and conflicts throughout history.
These are the prayers that I am praying in the face of the ugliness of war. They may not be the pretty, sanitized prayers that we have grown accustomed to in churches in the US, but these are needed prayers, because people are broken by wars. They are coming home devastated and ashamed at the things they have seen and done. They need a church to offer them the real Way, Truth, and Light. They need a church, not to celebrate what has broken them, but to help them heal and repent, in order to find true Hope and Salvation in Christ.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Spiritual Truths and Actions for the Day After an Election
It's the day after an election in the US. We get online, check the newspaper, or listen to the news to hear the results.
Either,
A) you are pleased about the results, because they align with how you voted, or
B) you are displeased with the results, because you wanted a different outcome, or most likely
C) you are experiencing a mix of emotions because some races went how you wanted, but others didn't.
As Christians, where do we go from here on the day after an election? I recommend that we keep a couple of truths in our minds and there are a couple of things that we should do (or not do!).
Truth #1: God is in control. God was not on His throne in heaven wondering what the outcome of our elections would be. He was not worrying that His will would be thwarted by our election results. He is Lord, Sovereign, King, Creator, and well...God.
Biblical Source (if you really need something here): 2 Samuel 7:22 "“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears." (NIV)
Truth #2: Our primary job is still to share the Gospel, the Good News with a lost and hurting world. Regardless of the outcome of this election, our job, our mission as Christians has not changed. We are still commanded to GO and MAKE disciples. We are to share the GOOD NEWS with all people.
Biblical Source: Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (NIV)
Biblical Source: 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (NIV)
Truth #3: God can be glorified even through pain and unfortunate events. God is not going to be defeated by anything anyone on this world says or does.
Biblical Source: 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (NIV)
Biblical Source: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)
Biblical Source: Genesis 45:4-8/Genesis 50:20 (Joseph told his brothers that what they meant to hurt him, God used to save people) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (NIV)
Action #1: Pray for all people, including newly elected leaders.
Biblical Source: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (NIV)
Action #2: Submit to the authority elected.
Biblical Source: Hebrews 13:17 "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you." (NIV)
AND
Biblical Source: 1 Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." (NIV)
AND
Biblical Source: Romans 13
Action #3: Obey God over man, when man asks you to go against God's commands.
Biblical Source: Acts 5:29 "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!" (NIV)
Action #4: Do not complain about results you didn't want.
Biblical Source: Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (NIV)
Biblical Source: James 5:9 "Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" (NIV)
Biblical Source: Philippians 2:14-16 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain." (NIV)
So, regardless of the election results, take heart, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God is still sovereign, we are still called to share the Gospel, and God can be glorified even in the darkest of events. And prepare for action! Pray for all people, including elected officials, obey the leaders (insofar as you can and still obey God's supreme law), and please, please, please, don't go around complaining about the results you disagree with. Take all worries and complaints to God in prayer, but don't complain to others about these things.
Either,
A) you are pleased about the results, because they align with how you voted, or
B) you are displeased with the results, because you wanted a different outcome, or most likely
C) you are experiencing a mix of emotions because some races went how you wanted, but others didn't.
As Christians, where do we go from here on the day after an election? I recommend that we keep a couple of truths in our minds and there are a couple of things that we should do (or not do!).
Truth #1: God is in control. God was not on His throne in heaven wondering what the outcome of our elections would be. He was not worrying that His will would be thwarted by our election results. He is Lord, Sovereign, King, Creator, and well...God.
Biblical Source (if you really need something here): 2 Samuel 7:22 "“How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears." (NIV)
Truth #2: Our primary job is still to share the Gospel, the Good News with a lost and hurting world. Regardless of the outcome of this election, our job, our mission as Christians has not changed. We are still commanded to GO and MAKE disciples. We are to share the GOOD NEWS with all people.
Biblical Source: Matthew 28:18-20 "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”" (NIV)
Biblical Source: 2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (NIV)
Truth #3: God can be glorified even through pain and unfortunate events. God is not going to be defeated by anything anyone on this world says or does.
Biblical Source: 2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." (NIV)
Biblical Source: Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)
Biblical Source: Genesis 45:4-8/Genesis 50:20 (Joseph told his brothers that what they meant to hurt him, God used to save people) "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (NIV)
Action #1: Pray for all people, including newly elected leaders.
Biblical Source: 1 Timothy 2:1-4 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (NIV)
Action #2: Submit to the authority elected.
Biblical Source: Hebrews 13:17 "Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you." (NIV)
AND
Biblical Source: 1 Peter 2:13-14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." (NIV)
AND
Biblical Source: Romans 13
Action #3: Obey God over man, when man asks you to go against God's commands.
Biblical Source: Acts 5:29 "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!" (NIV)
Action #4: Do not complain about results you didn't want.
Biblical Source: Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (NIV)
Biblical Source: James 5:9 "Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" (NIV)
Biblical Source: Philippians 2:14-16 "Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain." (NIV)
So, regardless of the election results, take heart, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God is still sovereign, we are still called to share the Gospel, and God can be glorified even in the darkest of events. And prepare for action! Pray for all people, including elected officials, obey the leaders (insofar as you can and still obey God's supreme law), and please, please, please, don't go around complaining about the results you disagree with. Take all worries and complaints to God in prayer, but don't complain to others about these things.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Be Content
Are you content today? Are you enjoying & appreciating what God has given you for today?
Or are you mournfully looking at what you had in the past?
Or are you covetously looking at what you want in the future?
In the (utterly amazing and highly recommended) book Pollyanna, the titular character goes to visit a shut-in. This shut-in gets meals delivered to her by the ladies of the church, but she is infamous for her discontentment & dissatisfaction with whatever she receives. Whatever is brought to her, she wants something else and therefore, she never is happy.
This is a bit of an absurd example, until we realize that we do this too. We are unhappy with summer because it is too hot and can't wait for fall. We are unhappy that it is fall because it is too cold and we can't wait for warmer weather. We are unhappy with the poor roads in our towns, but we are also unhappy with road construction repairing & improving the roads. We are not content because we are always complaining about something.
The Bible talks about the importance of being content. We'll highlight 3 passages here:
1. Paul writes to Timothy "So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:8 NLT). If we eat 2-3 meals today and have at least 2 outfits, are we content? Or are we striving after more stuff, nicer stuff, or more comfortable stuff?
2. Paul wrote to the Church in Phillipae,
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV) Do you catch the significance here? When we look at this whole paragraph, Philippians 4:13 becomes so much more than a pithy little phrase to psych us up into doing something cool. We can be content, regardless of our situation because of the power of Christ within us. We can be content with a full fridge or an empty fridge. Whether our wants & needs are met or we are lacking necessities. We can be content, through Christ.
3. Finally, the author of Hebrews writes, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) We are commanded to avoid loving money and to be content with what we have. We can be content, because God never leaves us. This is critical. We may not have what we want or even all we need, but contentment comes from knowing God is with us.
As November has arrived, we talk a lot about gratitude, but when we are discontent, we aren't practicing gratitude. When we are constantly complaining about the weather, the traffic, or people, we notice the negative things more and more.
So let's practice being content with what the day brings and expressing gratitude for what God is doing for us today.
What are you grateful for today?
How can you foster contentment?
Or are you mournfully looking at what you had in the past?
Or are you covetously looking at what you want in the future?
In the (utterly amazing and highly recommended) book Pollyanna, the titular character goes to visit a shut-in. This shut-in gets meals delivered to her by the ladies of the church, but she is infamous for her discontentment & dissatisfaction with whatever she receives. Whatever is brought to her, she wants something else and therefore, she never is happy.
This is a bit of an absurd example, until we realize that we do this too. We are unhappy with summer because it is too hot and can't wait for fall. We are unhappy that it is fall because it is too cold and we can't wait for warmer weather. We are unhappy with the poor roads in our towns, but we are also unhappy with road construction repairing & improving the roads. We are not content because we are always complaining about something.
The Bible talks about the importance of being content. We'll highlight 3 passages here:
1. Paul writes to Timothy "So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content." (1 Timothy 6:8 NLT). If we eat 2-3 meals today and have at least 2 outfits, are we content? Or are we striving after more stuff, nicer stuff, or more comfortable stuff?
2. Paul wrote to the Church in Phillipae,
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13 NIV) Do you catch the significance here? When we look at this whole paragraph, Philippians 4:13 becomes so much more than a pithy little phrase to psych us up into doing something cool. We can be content, regardless of our situation because of the power of Christ within us. We can be content with a full fridge or an empty fridge. Whether our wants & needs are met or we are lacking necessities. We can be content, through Christ.
3. Finally, the author of Hebrews writes, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”" (Hebrews 13:5 NIV) We are commanded to avoid loving money and to be content with what we have. We can be content, because God never leaves us. This is critical. We may not have what we want or even all we need, but contentment comes from knowing God is with us.
As November has arrived, we talk a lot about gratitude, but when we are discontent, we aren't practicing gratitude. When we are constantly complaining about the weather, the traffic, or people, we notice the negative things more and more.
So let's practice being content with what the day brings and expressing gratitude for what God is doing for us today.
What are you grateful for today?
How can you foster contentment?
Monday, October 28, 2019
Rich, Young Ruler or All Believers?
Individuals who have attended church for a while typically are familiar with the story of the rich, young ruler.
*He comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.
*Jesus tells him to obey the commandments
*The rich, young ruler says that he has kept them.
*Then Jesus tells him to sell everything and give to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven.
*The man leaves sadly because of his great wealthy. (Luke 18:18-30; Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16-30)
Generally, when I hear sermons on this passage, there is an aside mentioned that this was Jesus's conversation with the rich, young ruler, not a command to all believers.
That's fine and dandy, but it doesn't take Luke 12:22-34 in account. In this chapter, Jesus is talking to the crowds and His disciples. This section is specifically addressed to His disciples, and Jesus tells them, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:33-34)
We don't talk about this speech recorded in Luke, not addressed to a specific person, but to the disciples.
In the USA, we are a rather possessive lot. My money. My house. My car. My stuff. We give lip service that everything comes from God, but we nonetheless are spending a lot of money on things that are not necessities.
Everything we have comes from God, BUT everything is still God's. We are stewarding His resources that He has entrusted to us. So when we spend money, we are spending His money. Everything we own, therefore is His. He can instruct us to sell it, give it away, or avoid buying it in the first place, because it is not ours.
So the question we must ask ourselves is this:
Does God want me to spend His money this way?
Does He want me to sell anything to help the poor in my community and around the world?
Am I storing up for myself treasure on earth instead of on heaven?
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
*He comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life.
*Jesus tells him to obey the commandments
*The rich, young ruler says that he has kept them.
*Then Jesus tells him to sell everything and give to the poor in order to have treasure in heaven.
*The man leaves sadly because of his great wealthy. (Luke 18:18-30; Mark 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16-30)
Generally, when I hear sermons on this passage, there is an aside mentioned that this was Jesus's conversation with the rich, young ruler, not a command to all believers.
That's fine and dandy, but it doesn't take Luke 12:22-34 in account. In this chapter, Jesus is talking to the crowds and His disciples. This section is specifically addressed to His disciples, and Jesus tells them, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Luke 12:33-34)
We don't talk about this speech recorded in Luke, not addressed to a specific person, but to the disciples.
In the USA, we are a rather possessive lot. My money. My house. My car. My stuff. We give lip service that everything comes from God, but we nonetheless are spending a lot of money on things that are not necessities.
Everything we have comes from God, BUT everything is still God's. We are stewarding His resources that He has entrusted to us. So when we spend money, we are spending His money. Everything we own, therefore is His. He can instruct us to sell it, give it away, or avoid buying it in the first place, because it is not ours.
So the question we must ask ourselves is this:
Does God want me to spend His money this way?
Does He want me to sell anything to help the poor in my community and around the world?
Am I storing up for myself treasure on earth instead of on heaven?
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Go For Meaty Books
I love to read. Sometimes I like to read a happy little fiction story. Other times, I am wrestling with theology by reading books by Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis. Sometimes I read books that encourage me when I am weary. Other times, I need a book to motivate me to get outside of myself and my problems so that I can better serve those around me. Some of my favorite books are the books that challenge me and send me back to the Bible to not only to double-check the author, but to cause me to re-examine what I believe & why.
I pointed out to my husband that a lot of Christians in the Western world don't seem keen to do tough introspection. There are a lot of Christians who go for what I have termed "books of fluff": these are 'Christian' books that applaud you for being awesome as you are instead of spurring you on and encouraging you to be more Christlike.
When I think of the Church in the Western world, I realize that we have become complacent and comfortable, instead of pushing on to achieve our goal, which is spreading the Gospel.
To borrow an example from nature, if a river creates a side stream, that later gets cut off from the main river and prevented from flowing onward down the stream, than that side stream will soon become a stagnant pond and a breeding place for mosquitoes. When new water isn't flowing into a stream, it runs the risk of drying out. When water isn't flowing out of a stream, even if a little trickle is flowing into the stream, it runs the risk of stagnating.
It is the same way in the lives of Christians. When we cut ourselves off from the Source, we start to dry out spiritually. It becomes exhausting to live according to the Bible.
When we cut ourselves off from growth and outreach, we stagnant. We may get a trickle from the Source, but we are becoming self-absorbed, bitter, and just all-around icky.
There's a lot of books out there that congratulate you for being so godly and being a better person than the non-Christian culture around you. So instead of continuing to strive after becoming more Christ-like, we begin to pat ourselves on the back for being so awesome and silently judge the culture around us for their sinfulness. We are looking down at the very people we should be reaching out to in compassion.
But when we read the meaty books, that hold up Christ as our example, we still see the progress we have made from our first day as a Christian, but we are more aware that we still have a ways to go to be fully Christ-like.
I challenge you to read meaty books-biographies, auto-biographies, stories of the saints. Read the hard truths that make us uncomfortable or challenge us. And allow the Holy Spirit to grow you.
I pointed out to my husband that a lot of Christians in the Western world don't seem keen to do tough introspection. There are a lot of Christians who go for what I have termed "books of fluff": these are 'Christian' books that applaud you for being awesome as you are instead of spurring you on and encouraging you to be more Christlike.
When I think of the Church in the Western world, I realize that we have become complacent and comfortable, instead of pushing on to achieve our goal, which is spreading the Gospel.
To borrow an example from nature, if a river creates a side stream, that later gets cut off from the main river and prevented from flowing onward down the stream, than that side stream will soon become a stagnant pond and a breeding place for mosquitoes. When new water isn't flowing into a stream, it runs the risk of drying out. When water isn't flowing out of a stream, even if a little trickle is flowing into the stream, it runs the risk of stagnating.
It is the same way in the lives of Christians. When we cut ourselves off from the Source, we start to dry out spiritually. It becomes exhausting to live according to the Bible.
When we cut ourselves off from growth and outreach, we stagnant. We may get a trickle from the Source, but we are becoming self-absorbed, bitter, and just all-around icky.
There's a lot of books out there that congratulate you for being so godly and being a better person than the non-Christian culture around you. So instead of continuing to strive after becoming more Christ-like, we begin to pat ourselves on the back for being so awesome and silently judge the culture around us for their sinfulness. We are looking down at the very people we should be reaching out to in compassion.
But when we read the meaty books, that hold up Christ as our example, we still see the progress we have made from our first day as a Christian, but we are more aware that we still have a ways to go to be fully Christ-like.
I challenge you to read meaty books-biographies, auto-biographies, stories of the saints. Read the hard truths that make us uncomfortable or challenge us. And allow the Holy Spirit to grow you.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Listening to God
In order to listen to God, I need to be silent.
In a conversation, I cannot expect to hear what the other person is saying if I'm talking over them. Now I haven't spent a ton of time with little kids, but I've been around them enough to learn how they tend to monologue around and over each other. Sometimes each child will be narrating what they are doing, but no one is listening, because they are ALL talking.
It is entertaining at times to witness kids monologue-ing instead of conversing, but how often do we do this to God? We say we talk with God, but we monologue the whole time. We talk AT God, not WITH Him.
This isn't to say that we should NEVER talk in our prayers, but maybe a larger portion of our prayers should be listening. Then maybe our monologues will turn into the dialogues that they should be.
What does this look like?
*I outline my problem to God*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I pray for people*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I pray for events*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I ask God questions like these: What would you have me do, Lord? / How would you have me respond, Lord? What do you want me to say, Lord?*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
My overarching goal is to speak when God gives me words to speak and to be silent when God would have me be silent.
Will this mean that I will be talking less? Yes
Will this mean that I will be listening more? Yep
I want to be a person who speaks the very words of God. Words of HOPE. PEACE. ENCOURAGEMENT. MERCY. GRACE. By being silent and listening, I want people to know that when I speak, it's because God is prompting me. That's living intentionally and speaking thoughtfully.
In a conversation, I cannot expect to hear what the other person is saying if I'm talking over them. Now I haven't spent a ton of time with little kids, but I've been around them enough to learn how they tend to monologue around and over each other. Sometimes each child will be narrating what they are doing, but no one is listening, because they are ALL talking.
It is entertaining at times to witness kids monologue-ing instead of conversing, but how often do we do this to God? We say we talk with God, but we monologue the whole time. We talk AT God, not WITH Him.
This isn't to say that we should NEVER talk in our prayers, but maybe a larger portion of our prayers should be listening. Then maybe our monologues will turn into the dialogues that they should be.
What does this look like?
*I outline my problem to God*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I pray for people*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I pray for events*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
*I ask God questions like these: What would you have me do, Lord? / How would you have me respond, Lord? What do you want me to say, Lord?*
~I listen for guidance and directions~
My overarching goal is to speak when God gives me words to speak and to be silent when God would have me be silent.
Will this mean that I will be talking less? Yes
Will this mean that I will be listening more? Yep
I want to be a person who speaks the very words of God. Words of HOPE. PEACE. ENCOURAGEMENT. MERCY. GRACE. By being silent and listening, I want people to know that when I speak, it's because God is prompting me. That's living intentionally and speaking thoughtfully.
Friday, September 6, 2019
To Deny Myself, Take Up My Cross, Follow Jesus
Some parts of the Bible are very clear and easy to understand. "Love your enemies." "Love your neighbor as yourself." These may not be easy to apply, but we can understand them.
Other parts of the Bible seem clear, until we go to apply them. One such part of the Bible for me is the call of Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It seems simple, but what does this look like in our present day & age?
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeats a call to take up our cross and follow Him. (Matthew 10:37-39 and Luke 14:25-34). He also tells his disciples to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-26)
I get caught on these instructions. They seem so clear and simple, but then they are so hard to live out.
Deny Ourselves: This one is unpopular in our current culture in the USA. Modern wisdom says that if we deny ourselves we are striking a blow to the economy because we should be spending money instead of denying ourselves things. To deny myself...what exactly?
Take Up Our Cross: Very few people take this one literally. What is our cross?
Follow Him: What does it look like to follow Jesus? Do we need to eat like He ate? Talk to the kinds of people He talked to? Wear the kinds of clothes that He wore? Do the things that He did? Do the things that He commanded?
We like to live comfortable lives, but to follow Christ is to set aside our preferences and our rights in order to follow and obey Him.
It's to choose not to spend all of my money on myself, but to recognize that it is God's money and I am the steward of a portion of His money. It's to spend in accordance and alignment with His will.
We are called to die daily to ourselves in order to live for Christ.
When we follow Jesus, there is an aspect of obedience. We aren't saved through our obedience, but rather our obedience stems from our love of Christ and our gratitude for His saving grace.
What does it look like to live out this passage in this world today?
Other parts of the Bible seem clear, until we go to apply them. One such part of the Bible for me is the call of Jesus to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It seems simple, but what does this look like in our present day & age?
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeats a call to take up our cross and follow Him. (Matthew 10:37-39 and Luke 14:25-34). He also tells his disciples to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24-27, Mark 8:34-38, and Luke 9:23-26)
I get caught on these instructions. They seem so clear and simple, but then they are so hard to live out.
Deny Ourselves: This one is unpopular in our current culture in the USA. Modern wisdom says that if we deny ourselves we are striking a blow to the economy because we should be spending money instead of denying ourselves things. To deny myself...what exactly?
Take Up Our Cross: Very few people take this one literally. What is our cross?
Follow Him: What does it look like to follow Jesus? Do we need to eat like He ate? Talk to the kinds of people He talked to? Wear the kinds of clothes that He wore? Do the things that He did? Do the things that He commanded?
We like to live comfortable lives, but to follow Christ is to set aside our preferences and our rights in order to follow and obey Him.
It's to choose not to spend all of my money on myself, but to recognize that it is God's money and I am the steward of a portion of His money. It's to spend in accordance and alignment with His will.
We are called to die daily to ourselves in order to live for Christ.
When we follow Jesus, there is an aspect of obedience. We aren't saved through our obedience, but rather our obedience stems from our love of Christ and our gratitude for His saving grace.
What does it look like to live out this passage in this world today?
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Joining In Kingdom Work
Far too often we don't take everything to God in prayer. Some people don't mention the small things that are bothering them. Others don't mention that great problems impacting our world today.
I was musing on why we don't take all of our requests before God, no matter how big or how small. I came up with several possibilities.
Is this because we don't want to bother God even though He specifically invited us to cast all our cares upon Him?
Or is it because we don't have any God-sized projects in our life?
If all I am doing is a Liz-sized goal, then I don't feel the need to ask God or others for help. If everything that I am doing is within my power and my abilities, than I don't need help. I got it covered.
But when I join God in a God-sized project, then I am asking for help and guidance for sure!!!! I am leaning on Him for every step.
Kingdom work is all around us.
The question is: Will we join God in His work?
Now, we should be warned: We aren't enough for the project, but God is. It will take more than we have to give, but we aren't working all on our own. We are working alongside our brothers and sisters, as well as with God.
Just because we live in a sinful, broken world does not give a pass to isolate ourselves in our church buildings as we don't do anything about the state of the world. No! As Christians, we are called to help the hurting, comfort the mourning, feed the hungry, and pray for our enemies. We are called to visit the sick and the prisoners. We are to share the Gospel, the Good News, with the lost, the hurting, the hopeless.
Instead of driving past the person holding a sign, we can give them something to eat. Recently, I saw a couple sitting on the ground talking to a homeless man. They had brought him a to-go meal and were talking with him as he ate. When I saw that couple and realized what they were doing, I realized that was what Jesus would be doing in our present day and age.
Instead of barely interacting with cashiers and waitresses, we can ask them how we can pray for them today.
Instead of buying whatever is the cheapest or most convenient, we can buy what is most in line with Kingdom practices.
As followers of Christ, we are called to find where God is working, join Him, and then we'd better hold on! It is a wild ride of faith, tears, and prayers for those involved in a God-sized project.
Will we join in the Kingdom work going on around us?
I was musing on why we don't take all of our requests before God, no matter how big or how small. I came up with several possibilities.
Is this because we don't want to bother God even though He specifically invited us to cast all our cares upon Him?
Or is it because we don't have any God-sized projects in our life?
If all I am doing is a Liz-sized goal, then I don't feel the need to ask God or others for help. If everything that I am doing is within my power and my abilities, than I don't need help. I got it covered.
But when I join God in a God-sized project, then I am asking for help and guidance for sure!!!! I am leaning on Him for every step.
Kingdom work is all around us.
The question is: Will we join God in His work?
Now, we should be warned: We aren't enough for the project, but God is. It will take more than we have to give, but we aren't working all on our own. We are working alongside our brothers and sisters, as well as with God.
Just because we live in a sinful, broken world does not give a pass to isolate ourselves in our church buildings as we don't do anything about the state of the world. No! As Christians, we are called to help the hurting, comfort the mourning, feed the hungry, and pray for our enemies. We are called to visit the sick and the prisoners. We are to share the Gospel, the Good News, with the lost, the hurting, the hopeless.
Instead of driving past the person holding a sign, we can give them something to eat. Recently, I saw a couple sitting on the ground talking to a homeless man. They had brought him a to-go meal and were talking with him as he ate. When I saw that couple and realized what they were doing, I realized that was what Jesus would be doing in our present day and age.
Instead of barely interacting with cashiers and waitresses, we can ask them how we can pray for them today.
Instead of buying whatever is the cheapest or most convenient, we can buy what is most in line with Kingdom practices.
As followers of Christ, we are called to find where God is working, join Him, and then we'd better hold on! It is a wild ride of faith, tears, and prayers for those involved in a God-sized project.
Will we join in the Kingdom work going on around us?
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Finding Connections Instead of Dehumanizing Our Opponents
I've been noticing a disturbing trend on social media. It's not a recent trend, but it's been breaking my heart recently.
People have been roasting & shaming those who hold opposing beliefs on whatever hot button issue is close to their heart. Then the poster's friends join in with self-righteous judgment, shaking their heads at the evil of their opponent's ways.
But these conversations have escalated recently. Instead of questioning the judgment of an opponent, or even their salvation, people have jumped to doubting the humanity of those who disagree with them.
I see adjectives like "evil" and "inhumane" describing their opponents and I tremble. These are adjectives that start the slippery slope to genocide. When we stop seeing our opponents as people, as emotional, thoughtful, intelligent people, as flawed, broken, hurting people, we kill off some of our humanness even as we decry their lack of humanness. When we view them as less than human because of their views, we start to rationalize treating them as less than human. When we get to that point, it's only a small step from thought to action, from judgment turning into action.
We don't understand the other side because we aren't taking the effort to find and seek them out and to LISTEN and ASK QUESTIONS! Instead we retreat within our herd of like-minded friends and relatives, asking ourselves, "how could a human support this opposing view?" to which the mob cries back, "I don't know. It's evil." This, my dear brothers & sisters is social media at its worst. This is the Church at its worst.
How can anyone support...?
In order to actually answer this question, you'll need to get off your chair, leave your computer/phone, and find someone who supports the thing that you oppose. Form a friendship with them. See how they treat their spouse, co-workers, and pets. When you have a relationship with them, ask them about their views in a loving and gentle way.
"Hey, can I talk to you about <______>? A while back, you told me that you support it and I was hoping that you could share your reasoning with me. I'm willing to listen."
And, hopefully, they will share their heart on this subject. And I pray that you will listen, without interrupting or defending or attacking. You are seeking to understand their view, not start a debate. You should not mentally be forming a rebuttal or counter-argument while they are speaking, but simply listening.
When they are done sharing, thank them. It takes courage to open up and share something near to your heart.
Take time to reflect on their answer. I don't expect you to change your views or opinions, but I do hope you will begin to see the humanity of your opponent.
In Acts 17, we see a biblical example of Paul doing this. When he arrived in Athens, he walked around and saw idolatry everywhere. Some Bible commentaries say that idols almost outnumbered people in Athens!! It did distress him to see a city full of idols, but he interacted with Jews, God-fearing Greeks, Epicureans philosophers, Stoic philosophers, and people he encountered in the marketplace. He was invited to address the people at the Areopagus. Paul got up and began to talk to the people of Athens. He told them that he sees how religious they are. He references an altar that he saw on a walk around Athens, an altar that was dedicated to an unknown God. He used that to segue into the Good News of Jesus. He reminded the people that God created everything and isn't confined to our temples. God doesn't need us, but we desperately need Him to survive. God wants people to seek Him. Paul went on to quote from several philosophers (Epimenides and Aratus in case you were curious) to make a further connection. He gets to the heart of the Gospel: our need to repent. Not everyone who heard Paul's speech believed, but several did.
What is my point with all of this?
Instead of piously staying within our Christian circles, asking each other, "How can anyone support...?", we need to be out engaging our country's culture. (Pious in this case meaning "characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion")
We need to be spreading the Good News to all we encounter.
We need to make connections from our culture that can serve as an opening to spread the Gospel.
We need to see the humanity of those who disagree with us, as we pray earnestly for their salvation.
People have been roasting & shaming those who hold opposing beliefs on whatever hot button issue is close to their heart. Then the poster's friends join in with self-righteous judgment, shaking their heads at the evil of their opponent's ways.
But these conversations have escalated recently. Instead of questioning the judgment of an opponent, or even their salvation, people have jumped to doubting the humanity of those who disagree with them.
I see adjectives like "evil" and "inhumane" describing their opponents and I tremble. These are adjectives that start the slippery slope to genocide. When we stop seeing our opponents as people, as emotional, thoughtful, intelligent people, as flawed, broken, hurting people, we kill off some of our humanness even as we decry their lack of humanness. When we view them as less than human because of their views, we start to rationalize treating them as less than human. When we get to that point, it's only a small step from thought to action, from judgment turning into action.
We don't understand the other side because we aren't taking the effort to find and seek them out and to LISTEN and ASK QUESTIONS! Instead we retreat within our herd of like-minded friends and relatives, asking ourselves, "how could a human support this opposing view?" to which the mob cries back, "I don't know. It's evil." This, my dear brothers & sisters is social media at its worst. This is the Church at its worst.
How can anyone support...?
In order to actually answer this question, you'll need to get off your chair, leave your computer/phone, and find someone who supports the thing that you oppose. Form a friendship with them. See how they treat their spouse, co-workers, and pets. When you have a relationship with them, ask them about their views in a loving and gentle way.
"Hey, can I talk to you about <______>? A while back, you told me that you support it and I was hoping that you could share your reasoning with me. I'm willing to listen."
And, hopefully, they will share their heart on this subject. And I pray that you will listen, without interrupting or defending or attacking. You are seeking to understand their view, not start a debate. You should not mentally be forming a rebuttal or counter-argument while they are speaking, but simply listening.
When they are done sharing, thank them. It takes courage to open up and share something near to your heart.
Take time to reflect on their answer. I don't expect you to change your views or opinions, but I do hope you will begin to see the humanity of your opponent.
In Acts 17, we see a biblical example of Paul doing this. When he arrived in Athens, he walked around and saw idolatry everywhere. Some Bible commentaries say that idols almost outnumbered people in Athens!! It did distress him to see a city full of idols, but he interacted with Jews, God-fearing Greeks, Epicureans philosophers, Stoic philosophers, and people he encountered in the marketplace. He was invited to address the people at the Areopagus. Paul got up and began to talk to the people of Athens. He told them that he sees how religious they are. He references an altar that he saw on a walk around Athens, an altar that was dedicated to an unknown God. He used that to segue into the Good News of Jesus. He reminded the people that God created everything and isn't confined to our temples. God doesn't need us, but we desperately need Him to survive. God wants people to seek Him. Paul went on to quote from several philosophers (Epimenides and Aratus in case you were curious) to make a further connection. He gets to the heart of the Gospel: our need to repent. Not everyone who heard Paul's speech believed, but several did.
What is my point with all of this?
Instead of piously staying within our Christian circles, asking each other, "How can anyone support...?", we need to be out engaging our country's culture. (Pious in this case meaning "characterized by a hypocritical concern with virtue or religious devotion")
We need to be spreading the Good News to all we encounter.
We need to make connections from our culture that can serve as an opening to spread the Gospel.
We need to see the humanity of those who disagree with us, as we pray earnestly for their salvation.
Monday, August 12, 2019
Purging My Idols
What is idolatry?
Exodus 20:1-6 covers the first and second commandments, namely, not having any other gods before God and not having idols.
No other gods before me.
No idols.
This should be simple, but idols are a tricky thing.
We may not have altars and statues in our homes, but that doesn't mean that we are living in "idol-free" zones. The devil just shifted the worship of idols inward.
An idol is anything we worship instead of God.
An idol is anything we love more than God.
An idol is probably the thing or person that came to mind when you read those definitions.
Idols can be good things that we elevate too high.
Idols can be addictions or things that we can't live without.
Idols can be people, places, or things that we turn to first instead of God, when we need help.
Idols can be anything or anyone we look to for our value.
Idols can be who or what we look to, in order to solve our problems.
Uncomfortable yet?
Idols are tricky because they lie to us and tell us that they are harmless, natural even. So if you think of something or someone very dear to you and then think, "oh that's not really an idol." I challenge you to prove it: Fast from it and see how it impacts you.
We are often blind to our own idols. Sometimes we need to ask a trusted friend what idols they see in our lives.
The Lord does not accept second place in our lives. Will you join me in purging the idols that have take residence in our hearts?
Exodus 20:1-6 covers the first and second commandments, namely, not having any other gods before God and not having idols.
No other gods before me.
No idols.
This should be simple, but idols are a tricky thing.
We may not have altars and statues in our homes, but that doesn't mean that we are living in "idol-free" zones. The devil just shifted the worship of idols inward.
An idol is anything we worship instead of God.
An idol is anything we love more than God.
An idol is probably the thing or person that came to mind when you read those definitions.
Idols can be good things that we elevate too high.
Idols can be addictions or things that we can't live without.
Idols can be people, places, or things that we turn to first instead of God, when we need help.
Idols can be anything or anyone we look to for our value.
Idols can be who or what we look to, in order to solve our problems.
Uncomfortable yet?
Idols are tricky because they lie to us and tell us that they are harmless, natural even. So if you think of something or someone very dear to you and then think, "oh that's not really an idol." I challenge you to prove it: Fast from it and see how it impacts you.
We are often blind to our own idols. Sometimes we need to ask a trusted friend what idols they see in our lives.
The Lord does not accept second place in our lives. Will you join me in purging the idols that have take residence in our hearts?
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Learning from the Past
George Santayna is the author to whom this quote is attributed: "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
In college I was a social studies education major, focusing on history, economics, & psychology. So knowing about the world's history & learning from it is something which is a passion of mine.
Earlier today, I saw a quote on social media attributed to Anne Frank, from her diary. So naturally, I borrowed the e-book from our local library & read the diary entry for the date quoted, to verify the accuracy of the quote. It was correct & therefore I posted it below:
On Wednesday, January 13, 1943, Anne Frank wrote the following passage in her diary:
"Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. They’re allowed to take only a knapsack and a little cash with them, and even then, they’re robbed of these possessions on the way. Families are torn apart; men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return from shopping to find their houses sealed, their families gone. The Christians in Holland are also living in fear because their sons are being sent to Germany. Everyone is scared. Every night hundreds of planes pass over Holland on their way to German cities, to sow their bombs on German soil. Every hour hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people are being killed in Russia and Africa. No one can keep out of the conflict, the entire world is at war, and even though the Allies are doing better, the end is nowhere in sight."
Frank, Otto, and Mirjam Pressler, editors. “Wednesday, January 13, 1943.” The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, Anchor Books, 1991.
Isn't it disturbing when you read a snippet of a quote (the bolded parts above) & can't immediately tell if it is from the Holocaust or our present day & age?
Somewhere along the line, the Church has stopped questioning the State. It has stopped helping the victims of the State and instead the Church is piously standing behind the State saying, "Well they shouldn't have broken the law if they don't want to be treated this way." It is our role to care for those whom Society deems unworthy of its aid: the poor, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan, and the enemy. At least that is one consistent theme in the Bible.
It is not the role of the Church to pass judgment on those breaking the State's laws. It is our role to spread the Gospel to all people as we love both our neighbors and our enemies.
We should be disturbed that Anne's description of the Nazi-occupied Netherlands sound so close to ICE raids and detention centers in the US.
God, have mercy on us all.
In college I was a social studies education major, focusing on history, economics, & psychology. So knowing about the world's history & learning from it is something which is a passion of mine.
Earlier today, I saw a quote on social media attributed to Anne Frank, from her diary. So naturally, I borrowed the e-book from our local library & read the diary entry for the date quoted, to verify the accuracy of the quote. It was correct & therefore I posted it below:
On Wednesday, January 13, 1943, Anne Frank wrote the following passage in her diary:
"Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. They’re allowed to take only a knapsack and a little cash with them, and even then, they’re robbed of these possessions on the way. Families are torn apart; men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared. Women return from shopping to find their houses sealed, their families gone. The Christians in Holland are also living in fear because their sons are being sent to Germany. Everyone is scared. Every night hundreds of planes pass over Holland on their way to German cities, to sow their bombs on German soil. Every hour hundreds, maybe even thousands, of people are being killed in Russia and Africa. No one can keep out of the conflict, the entire world is at war, and even though the Allies are doing better, the end is nowhere in sight."
Frank, Otto, and Mirjam Pressler, editors. “Wednesday, January 13, 1943.” The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, Anchor Books, 1991.
Isn't it disturbing when you read a snippet of a quote (the bolded parts above) & can't immediately tell if it is from the Holocaust or our present day & age?
Somewhere along the line, the Church has stopped questioning the State. It has stopped helping the victims of the State and instead the Church is piously standing behind the State saying, "Well they shouldn't have broken the law if they don't want to be treated this way." It is our role to care for those whom Society deems unworthy of its aid: the poor, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan, and the enemy. At least that is one consistent theme in the Bible.
It is not the role of the Church to pass judgment on those breaking the State's laws. It is our role to spread the Gospel to all people as we love both our neighbors and our enemies.
We should be disturbed that Anne's description of the Nazi-occupied Netherlands sound so close to ICE raids and detention centers in the US.
God, have mercy on us all.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
How To Get Outside of Yourself
I like introspection, but this blog post won't be on introspection.
A while ago, I was discussing with my husband that people don't do tough introspection like I thought Christians should be regularly doing. My fabulous husband brought up a point that I hadn't considered in this conversation before. He said that the lack of introspection isn't the first thing that should be addressed. The root issue is humans are inherently selfish. If a selfish person is taught how to do introspection, they won't get out of it what they should because their focus is skewed. He warned me that if vain or arrogant people try to practice introspection, they won't see their flaws. He told me that we first need to do "extrospection". We need to get outside of ourselves to connect with others who are different or struggling. Then our "first world problems" will seem to diminish and shrink as we see others and experience what they go through.
And that is what will hold the proverbial mirror up to ourselves. We see someone struggling with hunger and we realize that we have been complaining that we don't prefer this snack in our overflowing pantry.
Knowing others and participating in their struggles expands our world. It keeps us from focusing on just ourselves as we begin to focus on something greater than ourselves.
Statistics and facts don't change people. Stories and experiences change people. Stories & experiences make things personal and touch our God-given compassion.
Read stories by people of other ethnicities and cultures.
Read stories that challenge us with a radical faith, love, forgiveness, and obedience.
Read stories that will encourage us to make these radical traits common in the Church.
Meet people from other cultures and ethnicities. Listen more than you talk. Ask them sincere questions and seek to learn. Go on mission trips and see how God is working in other cultures. Form friendships and open your homes.
Through my travels, I have directly been to Jamaica, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chicago, California, Indiana, Florida, Texas, and Mexico.
I have had students and made friends from India, Taiwan, China, Sudan, Somalia, Mexico, Guatemala, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand, Chile, Brazil, Eritria, Cyprus, Iran, D.R. Congo, and more places. So when I read about world events, I know people from the places being written about. When a new law comes out that impacts refugees and immigrants, it's not a theoretical law that has no bearing on my life, even though I am a native born US citizen. I know some of their hopes, dreams, and fears. And so what effects them effects me too.
Join in places and events when you are the minority. Worship in another language or culture.
Get outside of yourself, because it's not about you.
A while ago, I was discussing with my husband that people don't do tough introspection like I thought Christians should be regularly doing. My fabulous husband brought up a point that I hadn't considered in this conversation before. He said that the lack of introspection isn't the first thing that should be addressed. The root issue is humans are inherently selfish. If a selfish person is taught how to do introspection, they won't get out of it what they should because their focus is skewed. He warned me that if vain or arrogant people try to practice introspection, they won't see their flaws. He told me that we first need to do "extrospection". We need to get outside of ourselves to connect with others who are different or struggling. Then our "first world problems" will seem to diminish and shrink as we see others and experience what they go through.
And that is what will hold the proverbial mirror up to ourselves. We see someone struggling with hunger and we realize that we have been complaining that we don't prefer this snack in our overflowing pantry.
Knowing others and participating in their struggles expands our world. It keeps us from focusing on just ourselves as we begin to focus on something greater than ourselves.
Statistics and facts don't change people. Stories and experiences change people. Stories & experiences make things personal and touch our God-given compassion.
Ways to Get Outside of Yourself
I challenge you to read a variety of books if your area isn't as ethnically diverse (and even if it is).Read stories by people of other ethnicities and cultures.
Read stories that challenge us with a radical faith, love, forgiveness, and obedience.
Read stories that will encourage us to make these radical traits common in the Church.
Meet people from other cultures and ethnicities. Listen more than you talk. Ask them sincere questions and seek to learn. Go on mission trips and see how God is working in other cultures. Form friendships and open your homes.
Through my travels, I have directly been to Jamaica, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Chicago, California, Indiana, Florida, Texas, and Mexico.
I have had students and made friends from India, Taiwan, China, Sudan, Somalia, Mexico, Guatemala, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand, Chile, Brazil, Eritria, Cyprus, Iran, D.R. Congo, and more places. So when I read about world events, I know people from the places being written about. When a new law comes out that impacts refugees and immigrants, it's not a theoretical law that has no bearing on my life, even though I am a native born US citizen. I know some of their hopes, dreams, and fears. And so what effects them effects me too.
Join in places and events when you are the minority. Worship in another language or culture.
Get outside of yourself, because it's not about you.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Responding to the Border Crisis in a Christ-Like Way
I've been following the crisis at the border pretty closely. After all, Lucas and I spent four years working with refugees and immigrants in the panhandle of Texas.
The border crisis is incredibly complex, and it stirs up a lot of different emotions in people.
The first emotion that I feel in response to the border crisis is anger.
I am angered by how the asylum-seekers at our border are being treated. I am infuriated at the unloving and apathetic response of the Church.
It's easier to walk around angry, but if I am honest and vulnerable, I am really, underneath the anger, deeply and profoundly saddened both by this crisis and the church's lack of compassion. I am saddened that our country has justified the inhumane treatment of people (men, women, boys, and girls) because of the breaking of a law. Breaking laws should have consequences, but humane ones. I am grieved that the Church is largely silent on this topic. Just like it was silent during the civil rights era in the 1960s. Just like it was silent during the internment of Japanese-Americans in the 1940s. Just like it was silent when persecuted Jews in Europe applied to get into the US and we turned them away because we valued our safety more than their lives in the1940s.
The border crisis is incredibly complex, and it stirs up a lot of different emotions in people.
The first emotion that I feel in response to the border crisis is anger.
I am angered by how the asylum-seekers at our border are being treated. I am infuriated at the unloving and apathetic response of the Church.
It's easier to walk around angry, but if I am honest and vulnerable, I am really, underneath the anger, deeply and profoundly saddened both by this crisis and the church's lack of compassion. I am saddened that our country has justified the inhumane treatment of people (men, women, boys, and girls) because of the breaking of a law. Breaking laws should have consequences, but humane ones. I am grieved that the Church is largely silent on this topic. Just like it was silent during the civil rights era in the 1960s. Just like it was silent during the internment of Japanese-Americans in the 1940s. Just like it was silent when persecuted Jews in Europe applied to get into the US and we turned them away because we valued our safety more than their lives in the1940s.
Earlier this week, I was reading an article on this topic and a sentence jumped out at me: "The children told the lawyers they were given the same meals every day — instant oats for breakfast, instant noodles for lunch, a frozen burrito for dinner, along with a few cookies and juice packets — which many said was not enough." You can read the full article here.
As I read this article, I had some tough questions run through my mind:
-Can you imagine your elementary, middle, or high school student being satisfied with this as their daily calories? -What will the lack of vegetables & milk do to their growing bodies?
-Are the juice packets 100% juice or "juice drinks" that are just a flavored sugar-water "juice drink"?
-How would Jesus respond to this crisis at our border?
-What would Jesus expect for His Church to be doing?
I must do something in response to this poor treatment of children. I am compelled to act. And so I wanted to protest this unjust government policy, by joining these children in their meals, by eating similar things to them. But as I started to think through the logistics, I realized that A) I do need to eat fruits, veggies, & dairy in order to stay healthy and B) No one would care about one person changing their diet in protest.
My next thought was to do this for a day. And during that day, this would be my response:
*When I am hungry, I will pray for them.
*When my food budget goes unspent, I will donate to a Christian ministry reaching out to these children.
*When I am done with these meager portions, I will spend my remaining mealtime in dropping a message to the elected officials who represent my area & my voice will be heard.
*But most importantly, I will add my voice crying out to the King of Kings, who loves the people in overcrowded facilities, just as much as He loves the elected officials who should be making thoughtful and humane policies and as much as He loves those who serve Him as His Church.
And so, I will pray for the children, the aslyum-seekers, the workers, and the law-makers involved in this situation.
I will donate to Christian organizations to minister to those on the margins of multiple societies.
I will let my elected officials know that their political posturing is hurting children and that is unacceptable.
I will ask the Lord of Lords how He expects me to respond and I will obey.
-What would Jesus expect for His Church to be doing?
I must do something in response to this poor treatment of children. I am compelled to act. And so I wanted to protest this unjust government policy, by joining these children in their meals, by eating similar things to them. But as I started to think through the logistics, I realized that A) I do need to eat fruits, veggies, & dairy in order to stay healthy and B) No one would care about one person changing their diet in protest.
My next thought was to do this for a day. And during that day, this would be my response:
*When I am hungry, I will pray for them.
*When my food budget goes unspent, I will donate to a Christian ministry reaching out to these children.
*When I am done with these meager portions, I will spend my remaining mealtime in dropping a message to the elected officials who represent my area & my voice will be heard.
*But most importantly, I will add my voice crying out to the King of Kings, who loves the people in overcrowded facilities, just as much as He loves the elected officials who should be making thoughtful and humane policies and as much as He loves those who serve Him as His Church.
And so, I will pray for the children, the aslyum-seekers, the workers, and the law-makers involved in this situation.
I will donate to Christian organizations to minister to those on the margins of multiple societies.
I will let my elected officials know that their political posturing is hurting children and that is unacceptable.
I will ask the Lord of Lords how He expects me to respond and I will obey.
Sunday, July 7, 2019
Who Will You Obey?
I think it's safe to say that the world is a mess. It is divided, angry, hurting, and full of hate. We can easily tune into the world's message by listening to and reading the news, or even just getting on social media. We don't have to look far to encounter the undercurrent of fear that has become common in our daily lives.
We hear the world's message because we have access to technology, but God doesn't write a blog or send out tweets, so we haven't been paying His message and His teachings their due.
But amidst the white noise of the world's fear and hate, I can faintly hear my Savior speaking and we not only need to listen to Him, we need to start living out His teachings once more.
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was hungry and you fed me." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was thirsty and you gave me water." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was sick and imprisoned, and you visited me." (Matthew 25:36)
"Let the little children come." (Matthew 19:14)
"Love the foreigners for you were foreigners." (Deuteronomy 10:19)
"You are Christ's ambassadors." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
"Our battle is not against flesh and blood." (Ephesians 6:12)
"Love your enemies." (Matthew 5:44)
"Pray for your persecutors." (Matthew 5:44)
"Our citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20)
"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Joshua 1:9)
The world mocks, scoffs, and tries to drown out these teachings. It tries to convince us that trusting in "chariots and horses" is godly after all, but this is a lie.
The. World. Is. Wrong.
People are scared. That is understandable. The world seems to be a scary, strange, chaotic place.
We are not acting out of love for one another. We have been acting out of fear for far too long.
Leaders are making decisions out of fear. Historically, this leads to actions that our descendants are ashamed of.
People are scared, so they lash out. Other people are hurt and scared, so they lash out, and a cycle is born.
Can reaching out in love break this cycle? The Bible seems to think so. Yes, I'll admit that loving someone who hates us won't fix things overnight, but this is the path that we, as Christians, as called to walk. To the non-believing world, it doesn't make sense to lower our guard and reach out to others in love. It may not even make sense to us in the Church, but the thing is, God didn't invite us to edit the Bible to make it more palatable for our culture. He called us to obey, even when our culture is shouting that God's way will fail.
"For I was a stranger and you welcome me in." (Matthew 25:35) Jesus didn't promise safety and security when we welcomed the stranger. He didn't promise that it would be easy or convenient. But He did call for us to welcome the stranger in our midst. We can form friendships across cultures, even when our world says that it will fail.
The world is calling for us to react in fear.
Jesus is teaching us to love others in spite of our fears.
Who will you obey?
We hear the world's message because we have access to technology, but God doesn't write a blog or send out tweets, so we haven't been paying His message and His teachings their due.
But amidst the white noise of the world's fear and hate, I can faintly hear my Savior speaking and we not only need to listen to Him, we need to start living out His teachings once more.
"I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was hungry and you fed me." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was thirsty and you gave me water." (Matthew 25:35)
"I was sick and imprisoned, and you visited me." (Matthew 25:36)
"Let the little children come." (Matthew 19:14)
"Love the foreigners for you were foreigners." (Deuteronomy 10:19)
"You are Christ's ambassadors." (2 Corinthians 5:20)
"Our battle is not against flesh and blood." (Ephesians 6:12)
"Love your enemies." (Matthew 5:44)
"Pray for your persecutors." (Matthew 5:44)
"Our citizenship is in heaven." (Philippians 3:20)
"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Joshua 1:9)
The world mocks, scoffs, and tries to drown out these teachings. It tries to convince us that trusting in "chariots and horses" is godly after all, but this is a lie.
The. World. Is. Wrong.
People are scared. That is understandable. The world seems to be a scary, strange, chaotic place.
We are not acting out of love for one another. We have been acting out of fear for far too long.
Leaders are making decisions out of fear. Historically, this leads to actions that our descendants are ashamed of.
People are scared, so they lash out. Other people are hurt and scared, so they lash out, and a cycle is born.
Can reaching out in love break this cycle? The Bible seems to think so. Yes, I'll admit that loving someone who hates us won't fix things overnight, but this is the path that we, as Christians, as called to walk. To the non-believing world, it doesn't make sense to lower our guard and reach out to others in love. It may not even make sense to us in the Church, but the thing is, God didn't invite us to edit the Bible to make it more palatable for our culture. He called us to obey, even when our culture is shouting that God's way will fail.
"For I was a stranger and you welcome me in." (Matthew 25:35) Jesus didn't promise safety and security when we welcomed the stranger. He didn't promise that it would be easy or convenient. But He did call for us to welcome the stranger in our midst. We can form friendships across cultures, even when our world says that it will fail.
The world is calling for us to react in fear.
Jesus is teaching us to love others in spite of our fears.
Who will you obey?
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Does God Care About the Oppressed?
How should we, as Christians, react to the humanitarian crises around the world? A better first question might actually be, "What is a humanitarian crisis?" Humanitarian crises are crises that threaten human lives and cause the suffering of individuals. A crisis could stem from a natural disaster or from a corrupt political regime. It can be the oppression of some types of people, while elevating others above them.
Now that we know what these crises are, how should we be responding to them?
I try to stay well-versed in what is happening around the world. I try to do this by following the news on any crisis that gets reported on. Lest I be accused of only reading the news of "my side", let me reassure you that I have tried to read both conservative and liberal, both national and international, and both fear-mongering sensationalists and fake news. That should cover everything right?
I have read people's opinions on social media and listened to them discuss this in public venues. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
"I think..."
"It seems to me..."
"In my opinion..."
What we seem to be lacking is God's perspective in this matter.
I realize that any humanitarian crisis is by its nature an incredibly complex and volatile mess right now. They run the risk of being so politicized that we can no longer hold conversations with anyone who is not on our side of the aisle.
While we do need to dialogue with our leaders about ways to solve crises, this post is not about dictating exactly what a government should be doing to fix things. Right now, most sides seem more interested in casting blame than fixing the problems, so let's appeal above all human leaders, shall we? Let's go to God with this.
Today, I'd like us to look at what God says, through His word, about the oppressed and those oppressing others. A quick online search yielded many results (quoted from the NIV Bible):
Psalm 9:9...The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 14:6...You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
Psalm 72:4...May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
Psalm 103:6...The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Proverbs 14:31...Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 17:5...Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 22:16-17...One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty./Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
Proverbs 22:22-23...Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,/ for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.
Proverbs 31:9...Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Isaiah 10:1-3...Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,/ to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless./ What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
James 5:1-5...Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
Does God care about the oppressed? My reading of Scripture says that He does. I also learned that God will punish those oppressing others.
Instead of spouting off our opinions like they are gospel truths to be obeyed by all, we need to instead approach God and ask Him what He would have our response be.
Questions to Ask God:
-What is Your view on this issue?
-Does the Bible speak about this issue?
-Am I looking at the whole breadth of Scripture to fully learn Your view or am I searching for verses that "prove" my point?
-How does God call His Church to respond to this situation?
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Now that we know what these crises are, how should we be responding to them?
I try to stay well-versed in what is happening around the world. I try to do this by following the news on any crisis that gets reported on. Lest I be accused of only reading the news of "my side", let me reassure you that I have tried to read both conservative and liberal, both national and international, and both fear-mongering sensationalists and fake news. That should cover everything right?
I have read people's opinions on social media and listened to them discuss this in public venues. Everyone seems to have an opinion.
"I think..."
"It seems to me..."
"In my opinion..."
What we seem to be lacking is God's perspective in this matter.
I realize that any humanitarian crisis is by its nature an incredibly complex and volatile mess right now. They run the risk of being so politicized that we can no longer hold conversations with anyone who is not on our side of the aisle.
While we do need to dialogue with our leaders about ways to solve crises, this post is not about dictating exactly what a government should be doing to fix things. Right now, most sides seem more interested in casting blame than fixing the problems, so let's appeal above all human leaders, shall we? Let's go to God with this.
Today, I'd like us to look at what God says, through His word, about the oppressed and those oppressing others. A quick online search yielded many results (quoted from the NIV Bible):
Psalm 9:9...The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Psalm 14:6...You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.
Psalm 72:4...May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor.
Psalm 103:6...The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
Proverbs 14:31...Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 17:5...Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 22:16-17...One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty./Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,
Proverbs 22:22-23...Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court,/ for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.
Proverbs 31:9...Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Isaiah 10:1-3...Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,/ to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless./ What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?
James 5:1-5...Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
Does God care about the oppressed? My reading of Scripture says that He does. I also learned that God will punish those oppressing others.
Instead of spouting off our opinions like they are gospel truths to be obeyed by all, we need to instead approach God and ask Him what He would have our response be.
Questions to Ask God:
-What is Your view on this issue?
-Does the Bible speak about this issue?
-Am I looking at the whole breadth of Scripture to fully learn Your view or am I searching for verses that "prove" my point?
-How does God call His Church to respond to this situation?
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Pray Big Prayers
Do you listen to people's prayer requests? I mean, do we really listen to what is being said and reflect on what is being left unsaid?
I've come to the conclusion that either A) we don't want to risk overwhelming God with the weighty, big prayers, or B) our prayers are too small and narrow.
God is not JUST the God of one specific city, state, country, or even one world. He is the God of the Universe.
Yet, if our prayers were to light up a map, not based on where we were physically standing or sitting while we were praying, but based on where we praying for, how many prayers would be outside of our country or even our own city?
We need to pray big prayers.
Pray for the lost to be found.
Pray for slavery to end.
Pray for the persecuted to endure faithfully and lovingly bear witness to Christ during their trials.
Pray for their persecutors to become family through Jesus.
We should pray for the small things we see and encounter in our daily lives, but that doesn't mean that we are absolved from praying big prayers as well.
Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't pray small prayers, but rather we should pray big prayers alongside them.
For example:
I've come to the conclusion that either A) we don't want to risk overwhelming God with the weighty, big prayers, or B) our prayers are too small and narrow.
God is not JUST the God of one specific city, state, country, or even one world. He is the God of the Universe.
Yet, if our prayers were to light up a map, not based on where we were physically standing or sitting while we were praying, but based on where we praying for, how many prayers would be outside of our country or even our own city?
We need to pray big prayers.
Pray for the lost to be found.
Pray for slavery to end.
Pray for the persecuted to endure faithfully and lovingly bear witness to Christ during their trials.
Pray for their persecutors to become family through Jesus.
We should pray for the small things we see and encounter in our daily lives, but that doesn't mean that we are absolved from praying big prayers as well.
Now this isn't to say that we shouldn't pray small prayers, but rather we should pray big prayers alongside them.
For example:
the Church in your country
forgiveness for sins
physical healing
blessings
your friends, family, and leaders
Christians
the enslaved
victims
those a part of your nationality
kind people
those killed or hurt by terrorism
the persecuted Church
us
|
the global Church
deliverance & the power to overcome habits/tendencies/sins passed through generations
spiritual healing
to be a blessing to others
your enemies
those of other faiths to come to know the Lord
their enslavers
their perpetrators
refugees and immigrants
jerks
terrorists
the persecuted mosque/temple/synagogue/shrine
them
|
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Let God Defend Himself: An Open Letter
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I write this letter with all the love in the world, but I know that this isn't the easiest subject to navigate, especially in the cyber-world.
I write this letter with all the love in the world, but I know that this isn't the easiest subject to navigate, especially in the cyber-world.
God doesn't need His Church to defend Him. *ducks to dodge rotten vegetables*
God is not in heaven, biting His nails, wondering if any in His church will refute the lies and misunderstandings about Him. *ducks to dodge rotten fruit*
God does not need us to defend Him. He is more than capable of defending Himself. *ducks to dodge rotten meat*
I hope by this point you are all out of rotten things to throw my way. *ducks just in case*
I know that this topic is touchy, emotionally-charged, and very close to home to many of you, my dear Christian brothers and sisters whom I have the pleasure of calling my friends.
When you care about something or someone, to hear an attack on them hurts you. It causes you pain to hear them slandered or dragged through the mud.
But God can take it. When a person is mad at Him, God can take the yells, cries, and curses brought against Him.
But God can take it. When a person is mad at Him, God can take the yells, cries, and curses brought against Him.
When someone is mad at God, they do not need explanations as to why they should love God or why they are condemned for hating Him. They need to be heard. They need to be understood. They need to feel listened to and validated. They don't need a lecture or a declaration of judgment against them. They don't need another person in their life to tell them why their feelings are wrong. They need someone to sit with them. To listen. To love. To seek to understand. To show them compassion.
God can speak to people. God does speak to people. Far too often, His Church doesn't know how to deal with people's grief, pain, or anger, so we, as the Church, offer empty platitudes and admonitions to have more faith. We say some cliche phrases to get people to move on...or at least to move away from us.
Are we brave enough with God's help to listen to someone's pain without cutting them off to offer defenses and justifications? Are we willing to make sure that we fully understand their pain and their experiences before we even think about responding to people?
There is a beautiful prayer attributed to St. Francis. But the Church hasn't been praying the true words for a while now. We have corrupted and inverted the Prayer of St. Francis. We have been praying:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your judgment,
Where there is hatred, let me sow justification;
where there is injury, explanations of why the injury occurred;
where there is doubt, condemnation for lack of faith;
where there is despair, rebukes for not "snapping out of it";
where there is darkness, complaints;
where there is sadness, avoidance;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to console as to be consoled myself;
to understand as to be understood;
to love as to be loved.
For it is in taking that we receive;
it is in slinging mud that we are pardoned;
and it is in works that we are born to eternal life."
*Shudders* That is a horrible version of the prayer, but that is what we do as the Church when we try to talk people out of pain that we haven't bothered to take the time to understand in the first place.
We need to go back to praying the original words to the prayer:
We need to go back to praying the original words to the prayer:
"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
God is big enough to handle all the anger, accusations, and pain directed at Him. He can speak to people when they have hit rock bottom and poured themselves out.
But, I'm beginning to fear that we, as His Church, are not allowing Him the chance to speak because we are so eager to defend Him. We aren't willing to acknowledge people's pain or reasons for being upset with God because we are just chomping at the bit to correct them and show them the errors of their way. And people sense this. They understand that they and their experiences are being brushed aside and written off. They don't feel heard. They don't feel understood. And so their anger at God and His Church grows.
If we, as the Church, were willing to listen and fully understand before we even think of what we could say in response, people would notice that difference. God didn't charge His Church with making sure that we are His defenders and protectors. In fact, it is the other way around.
Let God defend Himself. Seek to listen and understand. Be still and listen.
My dear brothers and sisters, I freely admit and repeat that this is a tricky and uncomfortable subject. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on it and camp out on it with the Holy Spirit. I pray that my words have not needlessly hurt you, but I also pray that they will burn away the cliche responses so your love can better be seen by a hurting world.
I remain, yours sincerely,
-Liz o' the Niche
My dear brothers and sisters, I freely admit and repeat that this is a tricky and uncomfortable subject. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on it and camp out on it with the Holy Spirit. I pray that my words have not needlessly hurt you, but I also pray that they will burn away the cliche responses so your love can better be seen by a hurting world.
I remain, yours sincerely,
-Liz o' the Niche
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Strangers in Our Midst
For the last 4 years, we lived in an amazing community of people. We loved Cactus. We loved the refugees of Cactus. We loved the immigrants of Cactus. We
loved the Americans of Cactus. We worked in a pretty fabulous network of people
serving refugees, immigrants, and struggling Americans.
When we met a person from a country we hadn’t
encountered before, we rejoiced. We were thrilled to get to know them and to get to
learn more about their culture and their story. And our network rejoiced with
us.
We had a new student from Burundi. If you don’t know
where that it (I had to look it up), it is a small African nation by the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. We rejoiced when we
realized we had a new nationality enrolled in our ESL classes.
We also mourned at times. Our eyes & ears seem to be
hyper-tuned to pick out key words “refugee” “immigrant” “attack” “illegal” When
those words are paired together, we read & listen to the news stories,
often from as many news sources as we have time to read.
My stomach always sinks when I read those stories. But I do more
than simply mourn for the people directly affected by the latest tragedy. I
also mourn for the perpetrator as I wonder what they must have been feeling to
commit such a deed. I also mourn for unconnected refugees & immigrants who
now face a little more fear, a little more hatred, a little more
discrimination, as life gets a little harder due to someone else’s actions.
How many of you, of us, have been outside of the United
States? How long was each trip you took? A week? A month? A year?
Jesus charged His disciples (and we ARE His disciples,
are we not?) to go into all the world and preach His gospel.
Yet His Church regulated that task to “super-Christian”
missionaries and most of us stay where we are comfortable.
So God brought the nations to us, in our hometowns.
Refugee. Immigrant. Student. Tourist. They have come to our doorstep.
But we don’t welcome them with open arms. We don’t invite
them into our hearts and homes to share the Good News with them.
You see, they eat differently than we do. They smell
differently. They look differently than we do. They dress and act differently. So
we ignore them and walk on past them.
God has brought the nations to us and we STILL do not
tell them the Good News.
When Jesus gave His disciples commands, I don’t notice a
lot of conditions and clauses attached.
"Love your neighbor as yourself." Period. He didn’t say, “Love
your neighbor as yourself, UNLESS they practice a different religion than you
practice. If they follow another god, ignore them and pass on the other side of
the street.” Spoiler: He didn't say that second bit.
"Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors." Period.
He didn’t say, “Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors, UNLESS they
are trying to kill you. If they are trying to kill you, by all means, try to
kill them first. After all, that is the example I and the Early Church left
you.” Spoiler: He didn't say that second bit.
His commands are to us and our obedience to Him is not
dependent on how others treat us. We are called to be obedient, regardless of
how unloving and unlovable people are acting towards us.
There are strangers in our midst. How will I, will you, will we respond?
There are strangers in our midst. How will I, will you, will we respond?
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Circumventing Knee-Jerk Reactions
Often, we read an article, potentially from a reputable news source. Then we take time to digest it and prayerfully consider how we should respond & what we should say. We carefully craft our response and make sure that we speak from love & with compassion, instead of with scorn or anger.
Or at least, that is what we should do.
Far more often, we read the headline of an article & may glance at a part of it, then we jump into reaction mode. We write a scathing condemnation that questions the salvation of those who disagree with us. We sit angrily on our high horses as we await responses, preferably in the form of praise for our moral uprightness.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, knee-jerk reactions do not glorify God nor further the dialogue with others. In fact, I humbly submit that when we give into a knee-jerk reaction, we run the risk of being a jerk.
What should we do instead of reacting in a knee-jerk fashion?
1. Read the article fully. From multiple news sources to gain a fuller picture of everything that happened. Make sure it is a news piece and not an opinion piece.
2. Pray. Journal out your thoughts if writing in a journal helps. Pour out all your emotions to God. Tell Him what you are feeling. Ask yourself why you feel angry, scared, sad, or threatened. Ask God for clarity to reveal what you feel, why you feel it, what your response should be, and what is truly the heart of the matter.
3. Be still and listen. Quiet yourself and listen to God. What is the Spirit telling you?
4. Turn to the Bible for an eternity perspective and for guidance in responding. Is this something that will matter in 5 years? In 50 years? In 500 years?
5. Ask God if you need to write a response. Prayerfully weigh each word. Be courageous enough to write from a place of vulnerability, where sadness, not anger, colors your tone.
6. Write from your perspective, telling how this news impacts you. Leave off judgment, condemnation, and sweeping statements that lump people together. Write in humble love.
7. Read what you wrote and pray about it. Is the Spirit prompting you to post it on social media, online, or tell it in person?
8. Run what you've written through the following two tests:
Is it HELPFUL?
Is it INSPIRATIONAL?
Is it NECESSARY?
Is it KIND?
Is it NOBLE?
Is it RIGHT?
Is it PURE?
Is it LOVELY?
Is it ADMIRABLE?
Is it EXCELLENT?
Is it PRAISEWORTHY?
9. Pray for the people who are impacted by the story and pray for those who are reacting to it.
10. If you have been so prompted by the Spirit, post your comment.
*Repeat each and every time that you feel tempted to have a knee-jerk reaction*
I know that this is a long checklist to do EVERY time you read or hear something and are tempted to react immediately, but the Bible has a LOT to say about when to speak and when to remain silent.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 tells us that there is a time and a season for every activity, including "a time to be silent and a time to speak". Do we ask God if this is a time to speak or if this is a time to be silent, before we sent our posts out into the world of social media?
Matthew 12:36 tells us that everyone will be giving an account on the day of judgment for every EMPTY WORD they have spoken. We will also give an account of empty words that we have typed. I don't think that God will only hold us accountable for words that we speak and ignore the words that we type.
Ephesians 4:29 challenges us to avoid unwholesome talk, but to only speak what will help build others up as they need encouragement, so that those who listen will be benefited. Do the words I type benefit people? Do they build others up?
James 1:19-20 tells us that we should be quick to LISTEN, slow to SPEAK, and slow to become ANGRY, because our human anger doesn't produce the righteousness that God desires. Are we being quick to listen to what is going on? Are we being slow to speak? Are we slow to become angry?
"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value." Prov. 10:20
"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense." Prov. 10:21
"A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them." Prov. 14:3
"Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips." Prov. 14:7
"The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception."Prov. 14:8
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Prov. 18:21
"Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin." Prov. 13:3
"Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues." Prov. 17:28
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov. 31:8
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1
"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Prov. 18:2
"Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them." Prov. 29:20
There is a lot of noise in social media, which is why we, as Christians, need to weigh our words carefully. This checklist is not the easy way, but it guides us to God first as we sort through our emotions and what a godly response should be.
As Christians, shouldn't we take the time to figure out how God would have us to respond to events?
We will post less online if we follow these guidelines, but I believe that what we do post will have been refined and more valuable because of its refinement.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Or at least, that is what we should do.
Far more often, we read the headline of an article & may glance at a part of it, then we jump into reaction mode. We write a scathing condemnation that questions the salvation of those who disagree with us. We sit angrily on our high horses as we await responses, preferably in the form of praise for our moral uprightness.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, knee-jerk reactions do not glorify God nor further the dialogue with others. In fact, I humbly submit that when we give into a knee-jerk reaction, we run the risk of being a jerk.
What should we do instead of reacting in a knee-jerk fashion?
1. Read the article fully. From multiple news sources to gain a fuller picture of everything that happened. Make sure it is a news piece and not an opinion piece.
2. Pray. Journal out your thoughts if writing in a journal helps. Pour out all your emotions to God. Tell Him what you are feeling. Ask yourself why you feel angry, scared, sad, or threatened. Ask God for clarity to reveal what you feel, why you feel it, what your response should be, and what is truly the heart of the matter.
3. Be still and listen. Quiet yourself and listen to God. What is the Spirit telling you?
4. Turn to the Bible for an eternity perspective and for guidance in responding. Is this something that will matter in 5 years? In 50 years? In 500 years?
5. Ask God if you need to write a response. Prayerfully weigh each word. Be courageous enough to write from a place of vulnerability, where sadness, not anger, colors your tone.
6. Write from your perspective, telling how this news impacts you. Leave off judgment, condemnation, and sweeping statements that lump people together. Write in humble love.
7. Read what you wrote and pray about it. Is the Spirit prompting you to post it on social media, online, or tell it in person?
8. Run what you've written through the following two tests:
A. The T.H.I.N.K. Test
Is what I'm about the post TRUE?Is it HELPFUL?
Is it INSPIRATIONAL?
Is it NECESSARY?
Is it KIND?
B. The Philippians 4:8 Test
Is what I'm about to post TRUE?Is it NOBLE?
Is it RIGHT?
Is it PURE?
Is it LOVELY?
Is it ADMIRABLE?
Is it EXCELLENT?
Is it PRAISEWORTHY?
9. Pray for the people who are impacted by the story and pray for those who are reacting to it.
10. If you have been so prompted by the Spirit, post your comment.
*Repeat each and every time that you feel tempted to have a knee-jerk reaction*
I know that this is a long checklist to do EVERY time you read or hear something and are tempted to react immediately, but the Bible has a LOT to say about when to speak and when to remain silent.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-7 tells us that there is a time and a season for every activity, including "a time to be silent and a time to speak". Do we ask God if this is a time to speak or if this is a time to be silent, before we sent our posts out into the world of social media?
Matthew 12:36 tells us that everyone will be giving an account on the day of judgment for every EMPTY WORD they have spoken. We will also give an account of empty words that we have typed. I don't think that God will only hold us accountable for words that we speak and ignore the words that we type.
Ephesians 4:29 challenges us to avoid unwholesome talk, but to only speak what will help build others up as they need encouragement, so that those who listen will be benefited. Do the words I type benefit people? Do they build others up?
James 1:19-20 tells us that we should be quick to LISTEN, slow to SPEAK, and slow to become ANGRY, because our human anger doesn't produce the righteousness that God desires. Are we being quick to listen to what is going on? Are we being slow to speak? Are we slow to become angry?
And then there's Proverbs. It has so much to say about words and speaking and silence, that I don't know where to start. Below is a sampling of verses from Proverbs related to this topic:
"Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues." Prov. 10:19"The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value." Prov. 10:20
"The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense." Prov. 10:21
"A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them." Prov. 14:3
"Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips." Prov. 14:7
"The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception."Prov. 14:8
"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Prov. 18:21
"Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin." Prov. 13:3
"Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues." Prov. 17:28
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute." Prov. 31:8
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Prov. 15:1
"Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Prov. 18:2
"Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them." Prov. 29:20
There is a lot of noise in social media, which is why we, as Christians, need to weigh our words carefully. This checklist is not the easy way, but it guides us to God first as we sort through our emotions and what a godly response should be.
As Christians, shouldn't we take the time to figure out how God would have us to respond to events?
We will post less online if we follow these guidelines, but I believe that what we do post will have been refined and more valuable because of its refinement.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
Achieving the Impossible
Do you dream?
Do you envision possibilities?
Do you think about what the future could hold?
Do you take steps to apply your dreams to reality?
Recently, I've been dabbling in dreaming.
What are the possibilities that my future could hold?
Where do I want to be in 10 years, or 5 years, or even next month?
How do I get from where I am to where I want to be?
Dreams are beautiful. They are shiny with delicate hope infused in their cores. They don't walk on the ground with the humdrum or commonplace, but rather, they float above our heads. We could see them (figuratively), if we just look up.
But how do we take hold of a dream and bring it to pass? We are on the ground and dreams are above us. How do we get from here to there? Simple. We. Need. Goals.
Goals are ropes that give us the ability to catch dreams and climb up to them. They allow us to flesh out steps between where we are and where we want to be in the future.
Much like taking a road trip in the car, we need more than just the starting point & end destination. We need a plan. Do we want to travel by highway, interstate, or back roads? Do we plan to stop along the way for gas, food, sleep, or other breaks? How long will we be gone?
When we set goals, we mentally start at our end point and work our way backwards in what needs done, before we can move forward to achieve our goals. I'll be taking us through some steps in setting up goals for success. After each step, I'll give a concrete example for how I applied this step in one of my recently achieved goals: biking 2,018 miles in a year.
Do you envision possibilities?
Do you think about what the future could hold?
Do you take steps to apply your dreams to reality?
Recently, I've been dabbling in dreaming.
What are the possibilities that my future could hold?
Where do I want to be in 10 years, or 5 years, or even next month?
How do I get from where I am to where I want to be?
Dreams are beautiful. They are shiny with delicate hope infused in their cores. They don't walk on the ground with the humdrum or commonplace, but rather, they float above our heads. We could see them (figuratively), if we just look up.
But how do we take hold of a dream and bring it to pass? We are on the ground and dreams are above us. How do we get from here to there? Simple. We. Need. Goals.
Goals are ropes that give us the ability to catch dreams and climb up to them. They allow us to flesh out steps between where we are and where we want to be in the future.
Much like taking a road trip in the car, we need more than just the starting point & end destination. We need a plan. Do we want to travel by highway, interstate, or back roads? Do we plan to stop along the way for gas, food, sleep, or other breaks? How long will we be gone?
When we set goals, we mentally start at our end point and work our way backwards in what needs done, before we can move forward to achieve our goals. I'll be taking us through some steps in setting up goals for success. After each step, I'll give a concrete example for how I applied this step in one of my recently achieved goals: biking 2,018 miles in a year.
Step 1: See the Dream
At the start of 2018, my mom asked me if I would be doing the 2018 bike challenge. I had planned on biking 5 times each week for (ideally 5 miles each day average). I asked what the bike challenge was and she said it was to bike 2,018 miles in 2018 (go figure, right?) I first rejected it as impossible. I couldn't bike 2018 miles in 365 days. That's impossible! Right??
Step 2: Count the Cost of What It Will Take
Well, it turns out one would need to bike 40.36 miles a week for 50 weeks to achieve this goal. Yes, there are 52 weeks in a year, but 2 weeks of grace will be appreciated on days I'm under the weather or traveling or whatnot. So if I bike 8 miles, 5 days a week, this goal seems plausible.
Step 3: Make Plans
I have a stationary recumbent bike, so I can safely multi-task. I can do my language studies, study the Bible, and check social media & email from my phone as entertainment and a distraction when I bike. As the year has progressed, I've learned an enjoyable way to while away my biking is to watch a movie or tv show.
Step 4: When Necessary, Tweak Plans
Even though I originally envisioned biking 8 miles each day, 5 days each week, I've tweaked this goal partway through. I needed to average 40 miles a week, but I don't have to bike the same amount each day. On busy days, I might just bike 1 mile. On my days off from work, I might throw on a movie (or two) and bike for several hours.
Step 5: Consider What You Want the Outcome to Be
I kept debating whether I should bike more miles at a lower resistance or fewer miles at a higher resistance on the bike. I got input from a few trusted advisers (my husband and my best friend). We determined that biking more miles at a lower resistance would burn more calories whereas biking fewer miles at a higher resistance would build more muscles. So I decided my resistance would be set on the low end of the middle range of difficulty.
Step 6: Track Your Progress
Each day, I record how many miles I have biked. My health app on my phone allows me to track time, distance, and calories burned. Each week, I tally my total amount biked (to make sure that I'm on track with my weekly goal of 40-ish miles) and add each week's tally to my monthly total biked. In my paper calendar, I can see my year at a glance with my monthly numbers, or I can see each's month's stats.
Step 7: Challenge Yourself
I am a bit competitive, so at the end of each month, I tally the total I biked, my best day biking, and my best week biking. I note my quarterly record too. This allows me to know at a glance, how close I am to beating my best day & week ever in biking. (I'll need a movie marathon to help me bike more than 36 miles in a day to be my current record)
Step 8: Track Your Completion Rate
At any point in the year, I could tell you how far I have biked (for example, 1,170 miles biked), but I also know how many miles I have left to go (848 miles left).
Step 9: Keep Dreaming
Before this challenge, I could not have joined my husband in a multi-day biking adventure, but as the year progressed, this new dream moves from impossible to plausible to doable. As I achieve my current goal, it opens up possibilities for future goals.
Step 10: Have Fun & Don't Forget to Celebrate!
I enjoy biking. I enjoy challenging myself to beat my personal bests. I enjoy watching movies while I bike. And when I complete this bike challenge, I will celebrate with my friends & family. Sometimes you'll want to select a definite goal ahead of time, other times, you'll just know you'll want to do something to celebrate. But it's important to take time to acknowledge the time, energy, and effort that you put into achieving your goal.
I am a big fan of big dreams. I can't bike 2018 miles in a day (that's over 84 miles per hour for 24 hours!!), but each day, I can chip away at this goal a little more. By the end of the year, I will have done something that I initially thought was impossible.
This can be applied to more than just exercise goals too.
Monday, January 28, 2019
The Spiritual Discipline of Latch-Hooking: Part D
This is part 4 of a 4 part series on spiritual truths that I can to realize as I made a latch-hook rug. You can find part 1 here, part 2, and part 3 here.
Latch-Hook Truth 16: When latch-hooking, I always wonder if there will be enough of each color. There always is enough of each color, in fact, there always are extra colors left over at the end. I don't need to be stingy or worried over running out. After I finished my rug, this was the extra yarn.
Spiritual Truth 16: In life, I don't need to fear running out of things. God delights in our generosity towards others. I should hold loosely onto my possessions, because none of them have eternal value.
Latch-Hook Truth 17: In theory, every yarn in a latch-hook kit is perfect and ready for use. In reality, there are quirks in the yarn. I need to weed out inferior yarn, whether it is too long, too frayed, or knotted. I don't have to use inferior yarn because of the previous point: there's always extra at the end.
Spiritual Truth 17: Sometimes, I need to weed out unhealthy reactions or emotions. Everything I think or feel should not be acted on. Part of the Christian way is to identify areas in which we don't measure up to Christ's standard...and to seek the Holy Spirit's help in becoming more Christ-like. It's not enough to shrug our shoulders & say that it doesn't come naturally to us. We need to weed out ungodly traits and thoughts from our lives.
Latch-Hook Truth 18: I need to groom my rugs to remove fuzz. As I work, there is a build up of fuzz from the ends of the yarn. Grooming the rug involves finger-combing over it to collect the fuzz. The fuzz reflects colors of the area being worked on, whether that is the water, the sky, or the ship. Regardless of its color, it needs removed all the same.
Spiritual Truth 18: I need to regularly go over my actions and thoughts with the Holy Spirit. When God reveals gunk in my life, I need to allow Him to comb it out of me. It's not a "once and you're done" process, but needs to happen regularly, as long as I still draw breath.
Latch-Hook Truth 19: I need to trust there will be enough of each color. Um...wasn't this the point of #16 & 17?? 16's point is not to be stingy or worried over the amount of yarn left. 17's point is not to use inferior yarn because I'm scared there won't be enough. This point is all about TRUST. I need to trust that the maker of the latch-hook knew what he or she was doing when ordering the threads. I need to trust that he or she set the pattern correctly. I need to trust that I won't run out of dark blue even when the last three rows use 300 strands of dark blue yarn a piece. I can only be generous & discerning in my yarn usage if I trust the maker of the kit.
Spiritual Truth 19: I need to trust God to lead me. Trust is the basis for generosity in my life. If I am generous, will I trust God that I still will have enough? Trust is the basis for discerning which attitudes I need to get rid of. If I allow attitudes to be culled from my life, will I trust God will shape my nature into a more Christ-like follower? Do I trust Him enough to follow where He leads, even if I don't understand all of His reasoning?
Latch-Hook Truth 20: Latch-hooking is a fun solo activity, but it is also good to accept help. Accepting help tempers pride. The "I made this" becomes a "We made this". Accepting help brings more people into the craft room to share in my hobby.
Spiritual Truth 20: Life is not meant to be done as a solo activity. We need to accept and offer help freely. Offering help allows others into my life, where I can shower them with Christ's love and accepting help allows others to be obedient to God's instructions as I experience both giving and receiving aid.
Is latch-hooking a spiritual action? To answer this, we must look at a bigger question: What makes an object secular or sacred? It depends on where it draws your mind. If an object makes you think of and worship God, then it is sacred. If it keeps your thoughts turn downward or inward on yourself and your worldly cares, then it is secular. The creator's intent could be secular or sacred in its own right, but your approach to an object matters too. We can treat sacred objects in a secular manner by misusing it. Secular objects can be used in a sacred way when they draw our thoughts to God in worship.
When I say that I am making a latch-hook rug, I am also taking lessons at Jesus' feet. I am learning about prayer, worship, dedication & persistence, patience, and so much more. For me, making a latch-hook rug is a sacred task. And so it is the 13th Spiritual Discipline that I have studied this year.
Latch-Hook Truth 16: When latch-hooking, I always wonder if there will be enough of each color. There always is enough of each color, in fact, there always are extra colors left over at the end. I don't need to be stingy or worried over running out. After I finished my rug, this was the extra yarn.
Latch-Hook Truth 18: I need to groom my rugs to remove fuzz. As I work, there is a build up of fuzz from the ends of the yarn. Grooming the rug involves finger-combing over it to collect the fuzz. The fuzz reflects colors of the area being worked on, whether that is the water, the sky, or the ship. Regardless of its color, it needs removed all the same.
Latch-Hook Truth 19: I need to trust there will be enough of each color. Um...wasn't this the point of #16 & 17?? 16's point is not to be stingy or worried over the amount of yarn left. 17's point is not to use inferior yarn because I'm scared there won't be enough. This point is all about TRUST. I need to trust that the maker of the latch-hook knew what he or she was doing when ordering the threads. I need to trust that he or she set the pattern correctly. I need to trust that I won't run out of dark blue even when the last three rows use 300 strands of dark blue yarn a piece. I can only be generous & discerning in my yarn usage if I trust the maker of the kit.
Latch-Hook Truth 20: Latch-hooking is a fun solo activity, but it is also good to accept help. Accepting help tempers pride. The "I made this" becomes a "We made this". Accepting help brings more people into the craft room to share in my hobby.
Is latch-hooking a spiritual action? To answer this, we must look at a bigger question: What makes an object secular or sacred? It depends on where it draws your mind. If an object makes you think of and worship God, then it is sacred. If it keeps your thoughts turn downward or inward on yourself and your worldly cares, then it is secular. The creator's intent could be secular or sacred in its own right, but your approach to an object matters too. We can treat sacred objects in a secular manner by misusing it. Secular objects can be used in a sacred way when they draw our thoughts to God in worship.
When I say that I am making a latch-hook rug, I am also taking lessons at Jesus' feet. I am learning about prayer, worship, dedication & persistence, patience, and so much more. For me, making a latch-hook rug is a sacred task. And so it is the 13th Spiritual Discipline that I have studied this year.
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