For those who have been hurt by the church or other Christians and have walked away:
God never wants to marginalize your pain as unimportant, but He does call us to live a life of forgiveness and community. We will not always agree, and we are like a dysfunctional family at times, but we ARE family. If you can't return to the group you were once part of, pray for God's healing in the situation and find another church. You need the help and support of other Christians. And guess what. They really need you as well.
No man is an island.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAjSfb3XM4I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeqhDxAZ39o
My Stained Glass Window Life
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Intimacy
Intimacy is to let another fully know you. That is a very fearful thing. There are no half measures and there can be no going back once we have committed. If rejected, we will be crushed.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."
Jesus knows your every flaw and failure, both the ones you have hidden and the ones you have not yet committed. He also loves you fully and completely, so much so that He clothed Himself in flesh. He lived a life like ours, yet not like ours. He felt the struggle and pain, but remained true to His Father's will.
And though He remained true, he took all our failures into Himself and took our place. He took our penalty. He traded places with us so that we need never be separated again from Him.
Accept the one who knows you fully and loves you anyway.
Below is a link to a modern adaptation of "The Hound of Heaven" by Francis Thompson. You can read more about him at:
http://www.patheos.com/Catholic/Hound-of-Heaven-Pat-McNamara-07-10-2012.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXlgz4aBKt8
Sunday, July 6, 2014
How's Your Speed?
How's Your Speed?
I love to drive, but it can get a bit crazy on the road. Some are real sticklers, driving only the speed limit. Some are overly cautious and drive a fair bit under. I, like many, follow the 5 mph rule. You can always get away with up five over the limit, well, almost always. Careful in school zones though. Others figure if you can get away with five, why not ten. Still others believe themselves to be above the law and drive as fast as they can, zipping in and out of traffic at will.
All those different drivers do not mix well together. Everyone wants to live by their own rules. The problem is, we all want to follow our own opinion of what the correct limit should be. Fortunately, there is a group that we are accountable to called the police. They enforce the only valid speed limit set by a higher authority, the government.
A lot like life, isn't it. Some live by the rules. Some avoid doing anything remotely close to breaking a rule. Some bend the rules to the point of breaking. Still others follow no rules but their own passions. We all tend to want to decide for ourselves what the rules of right and wrong are.
Again, we are fortunate in that we are accountable to a higher authority. He set the rules long ago. They do not bend and sway based on our whims or desires. And in the end, He will enforce them. That may not be good news.
We have no capacity to perfectly follow them, and if we fail in the least point, we fail in all points. (James 2:10). The penalty for failure is death, separation from God. (Romans 6:23) And that isn't just a here and now thing, that separation from God is forever. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) For a people who like to live by their own set of rules, that can not end well.
There is good news though (Gospel literally means "good news"). God's love for us is as infinite as his hate for sin. He came as one of us and lived a perfect life. In spite of this, and the many miracles he performed and all those he healed, he was falsely accused of a capital crime, tortured by those in charge, and the full force of all God's hatred for sin (the sin of every single human that will ever have existed) was poured out on him.
Because he willingly chose to pay our price when he himself was innocent, we now can stand before God. One small catch. We must realize our need for him, and we have to believe that he loved us enough to actually do what he promised he did. This leads to the "Crown Jewel" of all scripture, the most recognized verse in the whole bible.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
So how's your speed? Are you still trying to set your own rules? Or have you realized you can't follow the rules on your own power and need help?
I love to drive, but it can get a bit crazy on the road. Some are real sticklers, driving only the speed limit. Some are overly cautious and drive a fair bit under. I, like many, follow the 5 mph rule. You can always get away with up five over the limit, well, almost always. Careful in school zones though. Others figure if you can get away with five, why not ten. Still others believe themselves to be above the law and drive as fast as they can, zipping in and out of traffic at will.
All those different drivers do not mix well together. Everyone wants to live by their own rules. The problem is, we all want to follow our own opinion of what the correct limit should be. Fortunately, there is a group that we are accountable to called the police. They enforce the only valid speed limit set by a higher authority, the government.
A lot like life, isn't it. Some live by the rules. Some avoid doing anything remotely close to breaking a rule. Some bend the rules to the point of breaking. Still others follow no rules but their own passions. We all tend to want to decide for ourselves what the rules of right and wrong are.
Again, we are fortunate in that we are accountable to a higher authority. He set the rules long ago. They do not bend and sway based on our whims or desires. And in the end, He will enforce them. That may not be good news.
We have no capacity to perfectly follow them, and if we fail in the least point, we fail in all points. (James 2:10). The penalty for failure is death, separation from God. (Romans 6:23) And that isn't just a here and now thing, that separation from God is forever. (2 Thessalonians 1:9) For a people who like to live by their own set of rules, that can not end well.
There is good news though (Gospel literally means "good news"). God's love for us is as infinite as his hate for sin. He came as one of us and lived a perfect life. In spite of this, and the many miracles he performed and all those he healed, he was falsely accused of a capital crime, tortured by those in charge, and the full force of all God's hatred for sin (the sin of every single human that will ever have existed) was poured out on him.
Because he willingly chose to pay our price when he himself was innocent, we now can stand before God. One small catch. We must realize our need for him, and we have to believe that he loved us enough to actually do what he promised he did. This leads to the "Crown Jewel" of all scripture, the most recognized verse in the whole bible.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
So how's your speed? Are you still trying to set your own rules? Or have you realized you can't follow the rules on your own power and need help?
Saturday, July 5, 2014
How We Respond to the Grieving
We see someone grieving a loss. The loss of health. Loss of job. Loss of family. Loss of hope. We want to say something, do something to ease their pain.
Often, a small aspect of that is selfishness on our part. It can be uncomfortable, even painful to be around them in that state. It is nearly impossible to be happy around them, and deep down (I hope), we realize that it would be wrong to simply try to cheer them up.
What to do then? We want to fix their pain, but that is not what they really need. Part of their pain, the truly unbearable part, is the feeling of being utterly alone. "No one understands my pain or my circumstances." These words echo in the heart and the mind like a driving, deafening drum beat.
So how do we help? We sit with them. We listen. And where appropriate, we embrace them. We accept the awkward and unpleasant moment and yield our self.
The human touch is a powerful thing. It can convey so much meaning and power. One of my favorite miracles is found in Matthew 8, where a leper comes to Jesus for healing. Sometimes Jesus healed by speaking a word, and sometimes that word is not even spoken in the presence of the one being healed. Here, though, Jesus touches the man.
Imagine being that leper. The law requires that you separate yourself from all people. If you are to enter an area, you must announce in a loud voice that you are coming, giving them time to get away from you. He had not felt a human touch in only God knows how long. And with the loss of sensitivity in his nerve endings, he could not feel the touch anyways.
Jesus touches him and immediately, he is healed. Not only is he healed, but he now feels the touch of Jesus' hand. Were I him, I would have hugged Jesus with all that was in me. Knowing the compassion of Jesus, I believe he would have hugged right back.
When we embrace those grieving, we enter into their world. They feel less alone. Their grief is lessened in the sharing.
That is what Christ did for us. He entered into our world. He left the splendor and glory of being worshiped in heaven behind when he was born. He lived as one of us for over thirty years, experiencing all the joy and suffering of being human. Then, he allowed his own creation to torture and kill him. He came down and entered into our pain. He embraced us as we were so that we could know that he loved us. We were not alone.
For those who would believe on the sacrifice he made for us, he gives the gift of his Holy Spirit to live in us. He also promises in John 14:23 that "anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
He promises to always remain with us till the day that he comes to take us home to himself, to live eternally in heaven. There, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
ALL grief will finally be swallowed up.
Often, a small aspect of that is selfishness on our part. It can be uncomfortable, even painful to be around them in that state. It is nearly impossible to be happy around them, and deep down (I hope), we realize that it would be wrong to simply try to cheer them up.
What to do then? We want to fix their pain, but that is not what they really need. Part of their pain, the truly unbearable part, is the feeling of being utterly alone. "No one understands my pain or my circumstances." These words echo in the heart and the mind like a driving, deafening drum beat.
So how do we help? We sit with them. We listen. And where appropriate, we embrace them. We accept the awkward and unpleasant moment and yield our self.
The human touch is a powerful thing. It can convey so much meaning and power. One of my favorite miracles is found in Matthew 8, where a leper comes to Jesus for healing. Sometimes Jesus healed by speaking a word, and sometimes that word is not even spoken in the presence of the one being healed. Here, though, Jesus touches the man.
Imagine being that leper. The law requires that you separate yourself from all people. If you are to enter an area, you must announce in a loud voice that you are coming, giving them time to get away from you. He had not felt a human touch in only God knows how long. And with the loss of sensitivity in his nerve endings, he could not feel the touch anyways.
Jesus touches him and immediately, he is healed. Not only is he healed, but he now feels the touch of Jesus' hand. Were I him, I would have hugged Jesus with all that was in me. Knowing the compassion of Jesus, I believe he would have hugged right back.
When we embrace those grieving, we enter into their world. They feel less alone. Their grief is lessened in the sharing.
That is what Christ did for us. He entered into our world. He left the splendor and glory of being worshiped in heaven behind when he was born. He lived as one of us for over thirty years, experiencing all the joy and suffering of being human. Then, he allowed his own creation to torture and kill him. He came down and entered into our pain. He embraced us as we were so that we could know that he loved us. We were not alone.
For those who would believe on the sacrifice he made for us, he gives the gift of his Holy Spirit to live in us. He also promises in John 14:23 that "anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."
He promises to always remain with us till the day that he comes to take us home to himself, to live eternally in heaven. There, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Rev. 21:4)
ALL grief will finally be swallowed up.
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
A Funnel or a Sieve
Often we think of ministry as a funnel. God's love is poured into us and is directed out somewhere specific. We are great at creating programs of all kinds to reach people.
The problem with funnels is that their shape has to be pretty precise to work where we want them.
Many think that they are not gifted enough, or their lives are to messed up to minister.
Most often, I think, God desires ministry to be a sieve. A sieve is simply a container of any shape with a bunch of holes in the bottom. The water pours in and filters out through a variety of holes in the bottom. That is us. Irregular shaped containers with a lot of holes in life. And the sieve is far less important than what is being poured into it.
Let God's love pour into your imperfectly shaped life that seems to be full of holes at time. Then let it pour out onto whoever God brings across your path. I bet that He does amazing things.
The problem with funnels is that their shape has to be pretty precise to work where we want them.
Many think that they are not gifted enough, or their lives are to messed up to minister.
Most often, I think, God desires ministry to be a sieve. A sieve is simply a container of any shape with a bunch of holes in the bottom. The water pours in and filters out through a variety of holes in the bottom. That is us. Irregular shaped containers with a lot of holes in life. And the sieve is far less important than what is being poured into it.
Let God's love pour into your imperfectly shaped life that seems to be full of holes at time. Then let it pour out onto whoever God brings across your path. I bet that He does amazing things.
My Life
My Life
A friend of mine is now a grandfather. His daughter is only 20. The father is in his fifties. At first, the father seemed a decent guy (other than the outrageous age difference). He had a decent job and a good pension from a previous job. He had never married before and had no children.
Later, information about his past turned out not so true, and the truth about him was bad. He had a criminal record that was not relegated to just his past. It stretched over a thirty year period and contained items that are every parents fears.
My friend reached a point where he had to share this with his daughter. She replied that "he isn't like that any more." She told him that if he couldn't accept the father, he should stay out of her life. She didn't need him.
Shades of an old Billy Joel song from the eighties, "My Life":
"I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright.
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home.
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life.
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone."
My friend needs all the prayers he can get right now, but that isn't why I share this. Listening to him kind of hit home for me. No, I don't have any secret children floating around, or a criminal past. But I do have a heavenly Father. He has spoken to me about decisions that I have made that, at the very least, have not been in my best interests. And at times I have responded by telling Him (by my actions), "leave me alone, this is my life."
My friend is struggling to walk a fine line between being honest with his daughter and not pushing too hard. I cannot even fathom his pain, but I am reminded of a verse in Ephesians that we just studied. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed."
When I sin, and worse, when I persist in my sin, I grieve the very heart of God. Grace upon grace, He never stops reaching out to me to bring me back to Him and forgive me. There are still consequences, but He never stops loving me. He never gives up on me.
Pray that my friend can continue to offer his daughter grace. Pray that she sees the truth. Pray that we recognize those times that we grieve God and that we turn back to Him quickly.
Amen
A friend of mine is now a grandfather. His daughter is only 20. The father is in his fifties. At first, the father seemed a decent guy (other than the outrageous age difference). He had a decent job and a good pension from a previous job. He had never married before and had no children.
Later, information about his past turned out not so true, and the truth about him was bad. He had a criminal record that was not relegated to just his past. It stretched over a thirty year period and contained items that are every parents fears.
My friend reached a point where he had to share this with his daughter. She replied that "he isn't like that any more." She told him that if he couldn't accept the father, he should stay out of her life. She didn't need him.
Shades of an old Billy Joel song from the eighties, "My Life":
"I don't need you to worry for me cause I'm alright.
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home.
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life.
Go ahead with your own life and leave me alone."
My friend needs all the prayers he can get right now, but that isn't why I share this. Listening to him kind of hit home for me. No, I don't have any secret children floating around, or a criminal past. But I do have a heavenly Father. He has spoken to me about decisions that I have made that, at the very least, have not been in my best interests. And at times I have responded by telling Him (by my actions), "leave me alone, this is my life."
My friend is struggling to walk a fine line between being honest with his daughter and not pushing too hard. I cannot even fathom his pain, but I am reminded of a verse in Ephesians that we just studied. "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed."
When I sin, and worse, when I persist in my sin, I grieve the very heart of God. Grace upon grace, He never stops reaching out to me to bring me back to Him and forgive me. There are still consequences, but He never stops loving me. He never gives up on me.
Pray that my friend can continue to offer his daughter grace. Pray that she sees the truth. Pray that we recognize those times that we grieve God and that we turn back to Him quickly.
Amen
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