Thirty years ago today, my wife and I committed ourselves with vows to one another for life. I have no idea how long that will be, but if the first thirty years are any indication, the remainder will be wonderful.
I praise the Father for thinking up marriage and for bringing my path across hers thirty and half years ago!!
We met in late August, 1980, had our first date in mid-November, became engaged on Dec. 2 and married March 7th, 1981. We knew God had put us together. He has been ever faithful to guide us both in the relationship and through parenting our five children.
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Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
On Gaining Spiritual Sight
I have come to not only love God, but am developing a better understanding of what it means for me to have faith. At some level, it appears the Christian church has made its main issue whether or not you believe first that there even is a God; and second, that belief in the Crucifixion and Resurrection are the fullness of what we must hold by faith. As true as that last statement is, I find a deeper experience of faith in moving beyond that beginning point. I hope you are able to say the same. His Presence and His overt acts of support for me in my daily life are truly vital. I am daily amazed by His love and care.
In 2010, my wife and I heard of/observed two Christian marriages of 25+ years each disintegrate. It is sad for these people and sad for the message that God is love to a hurting world. The reality is that in each marriage something broke down involving faith.
The intent to walk with God is not enough. We each are broken individuals that find strength and wisdom from God to live apart from our brokenness, but we make a mistake to believe anything about ourselves other than of our human, broken state before Him. The intention to be a Christian is not where life is found. Living in Him is where true life is found.
I have thought a lot about the question of what is it we might do that would keep us each on a life-filled path--if He is for us, how can we fail? What is our responsibility in NOT making choices which in the moment do not appear to us damaging to ourselves or our loved ones in the long run? Is it just a statistics game like throwing dice, whether or not we really mess-up our life?
I bring no condemnation, just observation to either of the two marriages I mentioned earlier. What keeps us from outcomes such as this? And I mean more than just the pain of divorce. A lifetime is but a breath in terms of eternity; but nonetheless, hours into a day, weeks into a month, years into a decade is much time and many, many decisive moments with life-changing ramifications.
Here’s something that helps, I think:
Simply put, we are our own enemy. We will act selfishly, if we act naturally from within and for the goal of the ever-present sense of “I am…, I need…, I want.”
Antidote? Engage people in your daily life with the heart-set (not just a mind-set) of putting their needs above your own. This takes on different expression if the other person is your spouse, sibling, sibling in Christ, colleague or a sales clerk; yet it is in this attitude, that we learn what it means to rely on the Presence of God. He is opened to us in our thinking and our feeling by this level of reliance.
He desires to teach us deep meanings and provide us significant insights into spiritual truth, which is absolute truth. In actively dying to self is a constant recalibrating, if you will allow the term, of our perception of the world around us. In scripture we find the renewal of the mind of Romans, chapter 12. It is this renewal, we are constantly made aware of our need to function as something greater than our own brokenness.
It is in this God-ordained renewal, that we gain spiritual sight. It is in the spiritual sight, that we can see what needs to be done and avoided in our relationships. Life will not be reduced to a list of do-good choices that guarantee spiritual success. Spiritual success does not exist.
Spiritual life in Christ is lived or mimicked or abandoned by those who speak of it.
In 2010, my wife and I heard of/observed two Christian marriages of 25+ years each disintegrate. It is sad for these people and sad for the message that God is love to a hurting world. The reality is that in each marriage something broke down involving faith.
The intent to walk with God is not enough. We each are broken individuals that find strength and wisdom from God to live apart from our brokenness, but we make a mistake to believe anything about ourselves other than of our human, broken state before Him. The intention to be a Christian is not where life is found. Living in Him is where true life is found.
I have thought a lot about the question of what is it we might do that would keep us each on a life-filled path--if He is for us, how can we fail? What is our responsibility in NOT making choices which in the moment do not appear to us damaging to ourselves or our loved ones in the long run? Is it just a statistics game like throwing dice, whether or not we really mess-up our life?
I bring no condemnation, just observation to either of the two marriages I mentioned earlier. What keeps us from outcomes such as this? And I mean more than just the pain of divorce. A lifetime is but a breath in terms of eternity; but nonetheless, hours into a day, weeks into a month, years into a decade is much time and many, many decisive moments with life-changing ramifications.
Here’s something that helps, I think:
Simply put, we are our own enemy. We will act selfishly, if we act naturally from within and for the goal of the ever-present sense of “I am…, I need…, I want.”
Antidote? Engage people in your daily life with the heart-set (not just a mind-set) of putting their needs above your own. This takes on different expression if the other person is your spouse, sibling, sibling in Christ, colleague or a sales clerk; yet it is in this attitude, that we learn what it means to rely on the Presence of God. He is opened to us in our thinking and our feeling by this level of reliance.
He desires to teach us deep meanings and provide us significant insights into spiritual truth, which is absolute truth. In actively dying to self is a constant recalibrating, if you will allow the term, of our perception of the world around us. In scripture we find the renewal of the mind of Romans, chapter 12. It is this renewal, we are constantly made aware of our need to function as something greater than our own brokenness.
It is in this God-ordained renewal, that we gain spiritual sight. It is in the spiritual sight, that we can see what needs to be done and avoided in our relationships. Life will not be reduced to a list of do-good choices that guarantee spiritual success. Spiritual success does not exist.
Spiritual life in Christ is lived or mimicked or abandoned by those who speak of it.
Friday, January 28, 2011
His Resource and Our Responsibility: reflection on a work out in the Father.
Paul exhorts in Philippians to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
We are not saved by works. However, walking in salvation provided by God is a pathway, the pathway of Jesus.
We walk the path by learning to walk in the Spirit of God. This is knowing Jesus as the way. We pass through this life in the way of Jesus and it is a work in progress. We "work" to sort our selfish desires of the natural man from the pure and righteous desires of the Spirit of God living within.
It's a work because of learning the depth of self-denial even unto the death of the natural man, which we find emotionally painful.
It is work because it is a daily-- no a moment to moment --discipline.
Think of it this way: Our Father is full of resource available in the Spirit for us, and He calls us to a sobering responsibility here in this life. (Seven of eight NT references using the word sober are exhortations to the believer to be sober in spirit.) The work is in learning what His level of available resource is for us (unlimited in all things He desires for us) balanced against what our level of responsibility is in appropriating His resources. This work is not done to gain salvation, but follows for all of the rest of life from salvation or the moment of understanding and receiving His atonement.
Work out...something we do in the gym or on the field or in the basement to build strength.
Placing yourself in the rest of Jesus within, through faith in His work on the Cross is a deep work.
The working out of our salvation builds our strength in the spirit.
We are not saved by works. However, walking in salvation provided by God is a pathway, the pathway of Jesus.
We walk the path by learning to walk in the Spirit of God. This is knowing Jesus as the way. We pass through this life in the way of Jesus and it is a work in progress. We "work" to sort our selfish desires of the natural man from the pure and righteous desires of the Spirit of God living within.
It's a work because of learning the depth of self-denial even unto the death of the natural man, which we find emotionally painful.
It is work because it is a daily-- no a moment to moment --discipline.
Think of it this way: Our Father is full of resource available in the Spirit for us, and He calls us to a sobering responsibility here in this life. (Seven of eight NT references using the word sober are exhortations to the believer to be sober in spirit.) The work is in learning what His level of available resource is for us (unlimited in all things He desires for us) balanced against what our level of responsibility is in appropriating His resources. This work is not done to gain salvation, but follows for all of the rest of life from salvation or the moment of understanding and receiving His atonement.
Work out...something we do in the gym or on the field or in the basement to build strength.
Placing yourself in the rest of Jesus within, through faith in His work on the Cross is a deep work.
The working out of our salvation builds our strength in the spirit.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Haiti One Year Later
For an interesting look at ten Haitian's perspectives one year after the quake visit this website.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
A Modern Morality Play
The little boy in me had a great time. The film, Tron, is receiving poor reviews overall, except for the technical finesse it exhibits. Probably because the story is simple and a bit predictable, “sophisticated” movie goers aren’t wowed. Too bad. It’s a good story for this member of its audience due to its simplicity. There can be no doubt the movie is first and foremost an exercise in graphics, which are stunning by the way. (Then again, maybe I don’t get out much. ) It is 3-D with a twist--once inside the digital world, the 3-D kicks on. Reminiscent of color in another film once the audience leaps the rainbow.
However, it is also a straight-up, modern morality play. Good is portrayed honestly as against evil … and good wins out! In this age of the anti-hero and a dark fatalism about humanity in most films, Tron is a welcome break.
It also is revelatory about evil, but not in the way most would qualify evil. In the opening scene the protagonist’s father played by Jeff Bridges states, “…all information should be free and open.” The character, Kevin Flynn, is stating his values on social order expressed in the digital age, and the writers of the film are undoubtedly working to establish a theme for the film that will resonate with today’s audience.
However, the value itself is the Big Lie about Truth veiled behind an accepted social reality. While freedom of speech is an important safeguard against demagogues and political villains, the embracing of all knowledge both good and evil is nothing but death for humans. Good mixed with evil is the greatest evil of this world. This mixture (and herein is the problem with both Western thought and Eastern Mysticism) of good and evil, of light and dark, is simply a product of man’s natural condition. We cannot escape our own selfishness, and thus must somehow understand and describe in our literary and artistic expression the flawed human who still effects good in life.
This self-acceptance is both a function and the fuel of fatalism in our day. We accept the bad as the natural state of man. This is a correct evaluation of our condition, perhaps, but embracing philosophic acceptance of our “bad” characteristics is an evil that opposes true life.
For the spiritually minded Christian, we have had to learn that life is good only as it flows from the light, Jesus Christ.
I hope your next year will be a blessed year of revelation in Jesus as the Light of the World.
However, it is also a straight-up, modern morality play. Good is portrayed honestly as against evil … and good wins out! In this age of the anti-hero and a dark fatalism about humanity in most films, Tron is a welcome break.
It also is revelatory about evil, but not in the way most would qualify evil. In the opening scene the protagonist’s father played by Jeff Bridges states, “…all information should be free and open.” The character, Kevin Flynn, is stating his values on social order expressed in the digital age, and the writers of the film are undoubtedly working to establish a theme for the film that will resonate with today’s audience.
However, the value itself is the Big Lie about Truth veiled behind an accepted social reality. While freedom of speech is an important safeguard against demagogues and political villains, the embracing of all knowledge both good and evil is nothing but death for humans. Good mixed with evil is the greatest evil of this world. This mixture (and herein is the problem with both Western thought and Eastern Mysticism) of good and evil, of light and dark, is simply a product of man’s natural condition. We cannot escape our own selfishness, and thus must somehow understand and describe in our literary and artistic expression the flawed human who still effects good in life.
This self-acceptance is both a function and the fuel of fatalism in our day. We accept the bad as the natural state of man. This is a correct evaluation of our condition, perhaps, but embracing philosophic acceptance of our “bad” characteristics is an evil that opposes true life.
For the spiritually minded Christian, we have had to learn that life is good only as it flows from the light, Jesus Christ.
I hope your next year will be a blessed year of revelation in Jesus as the Light of the World.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Want to Fight Evil? Get Some Rest.
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:1 NASB
The NIV reads: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
Silently waiting on Him would be a way to describe "meditating on God." Since He is the Bread of Life, meditation or waiting on Him in silence is the feast, no?
In the New Testament there are over a hundred uses of the word evil. These translations represent nine different words in the Greek. The word in the Greek most often translated evil is poneros. (by NASB translators anyway)
Here is something to ponder (meditate upon), the translation of the poneros is
How much strain, stress, wear on our emotional and physical strength occurs as we labor for more stuff, more pay, more reputation, more recognition in this life? How much of our labor is the work the Father has called us to accomplish as compared to the efforts we take on motivated by our pride or fear or lust?
How evil are any of us anyway?
Matthew 11:25-30 reads
At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Want to conquer the evil in your fallen flesh? Rest in the Spirit of the in-dwelling Christ; figure out a way to relieve yourself of the labors associated with more gain, more fame, a better story at the water-cooler. Spend meaningful time with Him.
The NIV reads: My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
Silently waiting on Him would be a way to describe "meditating on God." Since He is the Bread of Life, meditation or waiting on Him in silence is the feast, no?
In the New Testament there are over a hundred uses of the word evil. These translations represent nine different words in the Greek. The word in the Greek most often translated evil is poneros. (by NASB translators anyway)
Here is something to ponder (meditate upon), the translation of the poneros is
- full of labors, annoyances, hardships
- pressed and harassed by labors
- bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble
- bad, of a bad nature or condition
- in a physical sense: diseased or blind
- in an ethical sense: evil, wicked, bad.
How much strain, stress, wear on our emotional and physical strength occurs as we labor for more stuff, more pay, more reputation, more recognition in this life? How much of our labor is the work the Father has called us to accomplish as compared to the efforts we take on motivated by our pride or fear or lust?
How evil are any of us anyway?
Matthew 11:25-30 reads
At that time Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. "Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Want to conquer the evil in your fallen flesh? Rest in the Spirit of the in-dwelling Christ; figure out a way to relieve yourself of the labors associated with more gain, more fame, a better story at the water-cooler. Spend meaningful time with Him.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
For a Tear-of-Joy Miracle
Merry Christmas and may your times of celebration
include the wonder of the Lord in all your relfections.
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