In the last ten years, neuroscience has made fantastic discoveries concerning the brain and how it functions. For example, the prefrontal cortex (a region associated with planning and executing complex behaviors) and the limbic system (a structure that plays a critical role in emotional responses) send information to a central location known as the striatum. There, a subset of highly specialized nerve cells integrate information from both structures, associating rewarded behavior with particular cues (“That aroma means food!).
While much of the information above is derived through PET scans and controlled testing, a critical component involved in the interpretation process is one’s worldview. The Atheist, the Pantheist and the Theist develop perspectives based upon each worldview’s presuppositions. The crucial aspect, therefore, is whether our worldview’s interpretation is firmly seated in the correspondence theory of Truth. In other words, are we saying of what is that it is, and of what is not that it is not.
It is impossible to empirically verify 100%, and to everyone’s complete satisfaction, that a certain state of affairs obtains absolute truth. Objective reality is subjectively experienced. Hence, each person’s worldview produces variations on any theme.
Okay, let me water this down some. Science has given to us an incredible understanding of the world we live in, as neuroscience does the brains we are given. But when science seeks to cut God out, as the Atheist does, we suffer. When science attempts to equate the physical realities we study with God, as the Pantheist does, we lose more than we gain. Theism is the only worldview that states God is both transcendent (outside) and immanent (inside). Christianity is the only theistic view that states God became a man, taking on humanity’s sinful nature, and rescued us once for all.
Faith, hope and love are not mere neuronal impulses or chemical reactions in the brain. Nor are they simply colorful brush strokes in the painting of life. They are attributes of personhood alone, which God is. Our connection with God is flavored by faith, hope and love. Our experience of God is personal.
Neuroscience, seen from a Christian viewpoint, becomes a rich source of insight and learning. Yet, it does not extinguish faith. Rather, like spices used to make a healthy meal interestingly delightful, neuroscience adds enjoyment to our appreciation of God’s marvelous creation.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Suffering Worthy of Honor
What am I really made of? Do I have what it takes? How will I know? No matter what anyone tells me, until I know for myself, all comments are second-hand. In order for knowledge of myself to have depth of meaning, it must be discovered first hand. The only means for this knowledge is through suffering. When I have journeyed deep into the canyons of suffering, only then will I be in a position to experience a “rising up.”
True and authentic character is formed in the crucible of suffering. Virtue is the deep-seated alloy of iron and carbon of character. It must be refined through intense hardship. Humility, temperance, courage, wisdom and justice; faith, hope and love (the nuclei of Christlikeness) are proven in the heart of suffering. Conversely, the notion that Christian faith provides a comfortable life suitable to our tastes quickly incinerates in the inferno of extreme adversity.
What is real, what is truly worthy of honor, is all that will survive suffering. The resurrection of Christ emulates this principle. By looking into the Passion of the Lamb, we look into the marvelous mystery of character formation. We discover death to self and resurrection to eternal salvation.
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered, and once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him…”
True and authentic character is formed in the crucible of suffering. Virtue is the deep-seated alloy of iron and carbon of character. It must be refined through intense hardship. Humility, temperance, courage, wisdom and justice; faith, hope and love (the nuclei of Christlikeness) are proven in the heart of suffering. Conversely, the notion that Christian faith provides a comfortable life suitable to our tastes quickly incinerates in the inferno of extreme adversity.
What is real, what is truly worthy of honor, is all that will survive suffering. The resurrection of Christ emulates this principle. By looking into the Passion of the Lamb, we look into the marvelous mystery of character formation. We discover death to self and resurrection to eternal salvation.
- Hebrews 5:7-8
“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the nave that is above every name…”- Philippians 2:6-9
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Hidden Mystery
A disfigured human body hangs like an old rag doll. Badly beaten and torn, the grueling torture strangled him with asphyxiating grief. Nevertheless, he exhaled beautiful words born of sacrificial love, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing." Then, in an excruciating moment, Jesus was abandoned… Somewhere deep within, he felt it; a frightening hollowness gripped his soul. A quiet moment passed. In terrifying anguish, Jesus forced the lonely words through his parched lips, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?!” Overwhelming pain squeezed powerfully. With one last breath, yet in a tone of absolute authority, Jesus asserted, “It is finished!” Dropping his head, he died.
The sweetest, most wise man who ever lived was brutalized on behalf of those who rejected him. If anyone desired to experience the depth of intimate fellowship with another, it was Jesus. To maintain a warm, vulnerable posture while enduring overwhelming agony attests to his sweetness. His suffering literally transcends the boundaries of our understanding. To consider the wisdom of the crucifixion and the suffering Jesus experienced leaves us pondering a mystery far too deep for our simple minds to handle.
“If God is to be found in the cross, then he is hidden in the mystery; if human experience is illuminated by that cross, then the experiences which are illuminated are those of suffering, abandonment, powerlessness and hopelessness, culminating in death. Either God is not present at all in (the cross), or else he is present in a remarkable and paradoxical way.”
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
The sweetest, most wise man who ever lived was brutalized on behalf of those who rejected him. If anyone desired to experience the depth of intimate fellowship with another, it was Jesus. To maintain a warm, vulnerable posture while enduring overwhelming agony attests to his sweetness. His suffering literally transcends the boundaries of our understanding. To consider the wisdom of the crucifixion and the suffering Jesus experienced leaves us pondering a mystery far too deep for our simple minds to handle.
- Alister McGrath
“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”
- Isaiah 45:3
Monday, March 28, 2011
Nurturing Courageous Love
One of the greatest enemies of courageous love is doubt. To see this, consider John the Baptist’s story. The Scriptures indicate John’s message was firmly based on Isaiah 40:3-4, his baptism on repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:2-5). Confidently exclaiming, “Look! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), John demonstrated a passionate conviction concerning Jesus’ identity.
Consequently, this steered him to confront the moral corruptions of King Herod. causing his imprisonment. Understanding prisons of that time, John most likely found himself experiencing periods of overwhelming isolation and boredom. While in that forlorn dungeon, the incessant biting of dark uncertainty nibbled at John’s steely mind. In time, a question, born in the womb of agonizing despair and aching sorrow, forced the words out of his mouth, “Are you, Jesus, the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matt. 11:2-3; Luke 7:18-20).
In peaceful times of green pastures, our faith may feel thick and rock-solid. Seasons of change, however, can bring devastating realizations. God often allows profound suffering because it is the terrain where growing faith finds enough room for contemplative reflection. It is where doubt, rooted in our sinful nature, is met by faith, rooted in Christ himself.
“Those who believe they believe in God but without passion in the heart, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, and even at times without despair, believe only in the idea of God, and not in God himself.”
Consequently, this steered him to confront the moral corruptions of King Herod. causing his imprisonment. Understanding prisons of that time, John most likely found himself experiencing periods of overwhelming isolation and boredom. While in that forlorn dungeon, the incessant biting of dark uncertainty nibbled at John’s steely mind. In time, a question, born in the womb of agonizing despair and aching sorrow, forced the words out of his mouth, “Are you, Jesus, the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matt. 11:2-3; Luke 7:18-20).
In peaceful times of green pastures, our faith may feel thick and rock-solid. Seasons of change, however, can bring devastating realizations. God often allows profound suffering because it is the terrain where growing faith finds enough room for contemplative reflection. It is where doubt, rooted in our sinful nature, is met by faith, rooted in Christ himself.
- Madeleine L’Engle
Friday, March 18, 2011
Couageous Love
Jesus took Peter, John and James with him. “Stay here while I pray,” he told them. Walking a little further, about a stone’s throw away, he fell to his knees surrendering to the heavy weight of sorrow. With his face toward the ground, he breathed a prayer in an overwhelmingly distressed voice: “Father, everything is possible for you. If you are willing, may this cup be taken from me.” Eventually, Jesus stood up and walked back to the three men who had fallen asleep. Waking them, he pleaded, “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? I tell you, be alert so that you will not fall into temptation. Certainly the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” With that, Jesus returned to pray once more. The severe pain and writhing agony within Jesus swelled, causing him to sweat beads of blood. Acceding his Father‘s desire, Jesus whispered, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done.” Soon, an angel appeared and strengthened him. Jesus, rising up, walked back to Peter, John and James. “It is time,” he said resolutely. “Here comes my betrayer.” (see Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46).
Jesus' heroic behavior in Gethsemane captured a moment of mythic courage. Making a self-sacrificing decision in that moment of crisis is about nothing other than love. Only a potent, altruistic love could lead Jesus to override the human impulse for personal survival. Seen from the intellect, his decision to face crucifixion was arguably irrational; seen from the heart, however, it was the only choice to make.
“The kind of love which led Christ to a cross…amid the angry torrents of persecution is not soft, anemic, and sentimental. Such love confronts evil without flinching and shows…an infinite capacity ‘to take it.’ Such love overcomes the world even from a rough-hewn cross against the skyline.”
Jesus' heroic behavior in Gethsemane captured a moment of mythic courage. Making a self-sacrificing decision in that moment of crisis is about nothing other than love. Only a potent, altruistic love could lead Jesus to override the human impulse for personal survival. Seen from the intellect, his decision to face crucifixion was arguably irrational; seen from the heart, however, it was the only choice to make.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Armed For Battle
“Praise the Lord, who is my rock. He trains my hands for war and gives my fingers skill for battle…”
There are two places, in Ephesians 6:10-18 & 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, where we find words concerning “the battle.” If we allow the thoughts developed by Paul in these two passages to overlap, we will see some interesting things. For instance, we learn about the battle ground. The battle ground is obviously where the battle takes place. While the wars throughout human history lie within the physical domain, Paul indicates he is not referring to these in particular. “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do ( 2 Cor. 10:3 NLT).” The NIV captures the thought this way, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” From this Paul launches into a discourse allowing us to understand a few important ideas.
It is imperative to know where the battle ground is. Unless we know where the battle is, we can never enter into fight. Paul identifies the battle ground like this: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12 NLT).” Let’s try and put a finger on what Paul is telling us. He writes in 2 Cor. 4:3-6 about the light of the Gospel in conflict with Satan’s blinding darkness. I am going to take liberty at shifting the order of two verses to help us see the battle. “For God, who said ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus (v.6).” “(But) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory Christ, who is the exact likeness of God (v.4).” Do you see the battle? Do you see where the battle ground is?
Listen carefully to Paul’s next words. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Cor. 10:4 NIV). Two questions come to mind. First, what are these weapons? Paul answers, “…the belt of truth…the breastplate of righteousness…the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation…and the sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:14-17 NIV). Secondly, what is the purpose of these weapons? Paul asserts, “We use God’s mighty weapons…to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.” (2 Cor. 10:4-5 NLT). Stay tuned for more…
- Psalm 144:1
In this life, we face battles and struggles so often it feels as if we are in a war. According to the Scriptures, this is not far from reality. In fact, the apostle Paul writes about this very topic.There are two places, in Ephesians 6:10-18 & 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, where we find words concerning “the battle.” If we allow the thoughts developed by Paul in these two passages to overlap, we will see some interesting things. For instance, we learn about the battle ground. The battle ground is obviously where the battle takes place. While the wars throughout human history lie within the physical domain, Paul indicates he is not referring to these in particular. “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do ( 2 Cor. 10:3 NLT).” The NIV captures the thought this way, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.” From this Paul launches into a discourse allowing us to understand a few important ideas.
It is imperative to know where the battle ground is. Unless we know where the battle is, we can never enter into fight. Paul identifies the battle ground like this: “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12 NLT).” Let’s try and put a finger on what Paul is telling us. He writes in 2 Cor. 4:3-6 about the light of the Gospel in conflict with Satan’s blinding darkness. I am going to take liberty at shifting the order of two verses to help us see the battle. “For God, who said ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus (v.6).” “(But) Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory Christ, who is the exact likeness of God (v.4).” Do you see the battle? Do you see where the battle ground is?
Listen carefully to Paul’s next words. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world” (2 Cor. 10:4 NIV). Two questions come to mind. First, what are these weapons? Paul answers, “…the belt of truth…the breastplate of righteousness…the shield of faith…the helmet of salvation…and the sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:14-17 NIV). Secondly, what is the purpose of these weapons? Paul asserts, “We use God’s mighty weapons…to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.” (2 Cor. 10:4-5 NLT). Stay tuned for more…
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Court Adjourned!
When we desire an attempt at sharing a deeply embarrassing secret to another, the response of the person listening can have enormous ramifications. For example, if we find the person we are sharing with even slightly judgmental and condescending, we will withdraw quickly and resist sharing any further with them. Additionally, we will become injured and that injury will make us wary of sharing sensitive information with anyone else. We no longer feel safe.
My experiences in small group has taught me the intrinsic value of a safe atmosphere, one of real and authentic caring. A safe environment, however, is not something we happen to walk into by accident. That kind of place is one fostered through intentional and deliberate choices. We learn to develop healthy boundaries and appropriate behaviors which nurture the feeling of being safe. Our hearts long to be in the presence of those who really have our interests in mind.
There are a couple of verse in the Bible I think can help us understand the importance God places on our ability to honestly share deep places within us in a safe place. As we consider, let us be conscientious of the destructive nature of judgmental and condescending attitudes.
“…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
Think for a moment with me. To confess a sin means to share a secret that has been hidden in the dark. It is to reveal something deeply troubling about oneself, causing embarrassment and shame. It is to disclose something very personal, causing us to feel transparent and vulnerable to vicious attacks. To confess our sins to another is profoundly risky and dangerous.
So, has God done anything to help us in this? Yes. Listen to the words found in Isaiah 53:5:
“…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Simply put, God has held court. He afflicted his Son through the burden of judgment and condemnation for our transgressions, our iniquities. In other words, God legally placed the penalty of our own sins upon Christ. Therefore, for anyone to attempt to be judgmental and condescending is in violation of God’s legal action. How is that so? Paul writes,
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ…”
He later mentions that no one - not even Satan himself - has the legal right to hold anything against us! If God has acquitted us, then we are acquitted! From this perspective, we can perceive Jesus’ last words to include the meaning, “Court adjourned!” “It is finished” is a formal declaration of our acquittal. Jesus’ death is the dropping of the gavel. His resurrection is the institution of something new, something wonderfully beautiful and new. Moreover, Jesus is the second person of the God-head and, in that position, has the authority to make such a legal claim.
If you ever find yourself being the recipient of judgmental and condescending remarks, please be aware that their words are in violation of the highest court’s ruling and thereby subject to the charges of both perjury and contempt. In God’s eyes, judgmental and condescending attitudes and comments are very serious offenses. And if we find ourselves to be the one judging and condescending, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous! He is compassionately merciful!
My experiences in small group has taught me the intrinsic value of a safe atmosphere, one of real and authentic caring. A safe environment, however, is not something we happen to walk into by accident. That kind of place is one fostered through intentional and deliberate choices. We learn to develop healthy boundaries and appropriate behaviors which nurture the feeling of being safe. Our hearts long to be in the presence of those who really have our interests in mind.
There are a couple of verse in the Bible I think can help us understand the importance God places on our ability to honestly share deep places within us in a safe place. As we consider, let us be conscientious of the destructive nature of judgmental and condescending attitudes.
“…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”
- James 5:16 NIV
Think for a moment with me. To confess a sin means to share a secret that has been hidden in the dark. It is to reveal something deeply troubling about oneself, causing embarrassment and shame. It is to disclose something very personal, causing us to feel transparent and vulnerable to vicious attacks. To confess our sins to another is profoundly risky and dangerous.
So, has God done anything to help us in this? Yes. Listen to the words found in Isaiah 53:5:
“…he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Simply put, God has held court. He afflicted his Son through the burden of judgment and condemnation for our transgressions, our iniquities. In other words, God legally placed the penalty of our own sins upon Christ. Therefore, for anyone to attempt to be judgmental and condescending is in violation of God’s legal action. How is that so? Paul writes,
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ…”
- Romans 8:1 NIV
He later mentions that no one - not even Satan himself - has the legal right to hold anything against us! If God has acquitted us, then we are acquitted! From this perspective, we can perceive Jesus’ last words to include the meaning, “Court adjourned!” “It is finished” is a formal declaration of our acquittal. Jesus’ death is the dropping of the gavel. His resurrection is the institution of something new, something wonderfully beautiful and new. Moreover, Jesus is the second person of the God-head and, in that position, has the authority to make such a legal claim.
If you ever find yourself being the recipient of judgmental and condescending remarks, please be aware that their words are in violation of the highest court’s ruling and thereby subject to the charges of both perjury and contempt. In God’s eyes, judgmental and condescending attitudes and comments are very serious offenses. And if we find ourselves to be the one judging and condescending, we have an advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous! He is compassionately merciful!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Mirror's Reflection
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 - “Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly - mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?”
Jude 18-19 - “…there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires…men…who follow mere natural instincts…”
The scriptures include some harsh evaluations at times. They can prove difficult to take in. Yet, it is essential to pay close attention if we are to experience growth in our relationship with Christ. As for me, I find these passages a stark reminder of those natural tendencies within that resist obeying God.
Romans 8:5, 7 - “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires…the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law nor, can it do so.”
One of the most destructive notions I adopted as a young Christian was the idea that salvation meant the full eradication of sinful behavior. Consequently, when sinful tendencies arose within, I would cringe in horror, imagining that if I somehow suppressed them from conscious awareness, they would go away. I also imagined that the quicker I pushed them down, God would see how “dedicated” I was to him. In order to keep them out of sight, I fabricated a persona, a tapestry woven with materials of tradition and regulations. Inevitably, the external image collapsed under the weight of truth.
Colossians 2:21-23 - “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
The gospel is not a message about God coming to earth to demand moral integrity. That was the message God gave Moses through the law, a message which could demand obedience but not cause it. The gospel is about Christ acting in response to our condition, abolishing the law by nailing it once for all to a cross (see Col. 2:14 & 1 Peter 2:24). We have now been given, through God’s Spirit, the capacity to experience loving obedience to our Father (see Romans 8:3-4, 16 & Galatians 4:6, 5:16).
Nevertheless we must guard against naiveté. Our tendency is to follow natural inclinations. The Holy Spirit works to lead us into intimate relationship with Christ expressed through a spiritual awakening, followed by a process of producing Christ-like attitudes and behaviors. Love underscores such a life lived in harmony with God’s Spirit. Faith and hope fill the heart and mind with peace as wisdom, courage, temperance and justice animates the character. It all begins when we step into the reality of the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Jude 18-19 - “…there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires…men…who follow mere natural instincts…”
The scriptures include some harsh evaluations at times. They can prove difficult to take in. Yet, it is essential to pay close attention if we are to experience growth in our relationship with Christ. As for me, I find these passages a stark reminder of those natural tendencies within that resist obeying God.
Romans 8:5, 7 - “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires…the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law nor, can it do so.”
One of the most destructive notions I adopted as a young Christian was the idea that salvation meant the full eradication of sinful behavior. Consequently, when sinful tendencies arose within, I would cringe in horror, imagining that if I somehow suppressed them from conscious awareness, they would go away. I also imagined that the quicker I pushed them down, God would see how “dedicated” I was to him. In order to keep them out of sight, I fabricated a persona, a tapestry woven with materials of tradition and regulations. Inevitably, the external image collapsed under the weight of truth.
Colossians 2:21-23 - “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch! These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”
The gospel is not a message about God coming to earth to demand moral integrity. That was the message God gave Moses through the law, a message which could demand obedience but not cause it. The gospel is about Christ acting in response to our condition, abolishing the law by nailing it once for all to a cross (see Col. 2:14 & 1 Peter 2:24). We have now been given, through God’s Spirit, the capacity to experience loving obedience to our Father (see Romans 8:3-4, 16 & Galatians 4:6, 5:16).
Nevertheless we must guard against naiveté. Our tendency is to follow natural inclinations. The Holy Spirit works to lead us into intimate relationship with Christ expressed through a spiritual awakening, followed by a process of producing Christ-like attitudes and behaviors. Love underscores such a life lived in harmony with God’s Spirit. Faith and hope fill the heart and mind with peace as wisdom, courage, temperance and justice animates the character. It all begins when we step into the reality of the first beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Inconvenience Exposes Impatience
Last week I shared my account with a car that wouldn’t start. It turned out to be a fuel pump gone bad. Yesterday, I picked up the vehicle and got started on my routine. Everything seemed to be going quite well… Then I learned of an incoming storm. Meteorologists were calling for a thick layer of ice to develop overnight, followed by an even larger system with more snow, freezing rain and ice. Immediately I began feeling the resistance rise within me. “Oh no!” I thought to myself, “I won’t allow this storm to interrupt my routine for tomorrow morning. I will continue with my plans down to the minute!”
Waking up the next morning, I peered out the bedroom window to find a large amount of ice had fallen. I dressed in warm clothing, grabbed a rubber mallet from the garage and commenced beating a thick layer of ice off the door latch and surrounding area. I then started the car to warm it up. As I impatiently assessed the amount of ice on the car, I decided to speed up the process by gently tapping the ice on the windshield. After several “gentle” smacks with the 3 pound rubber mallet, I returned into the house.
After 20 minutes or so, I went back outside to the car, wiping off the chunks of ice from the windshield. “What did I just do!?” I remarked to myself in utter horror. Removal of the ice uncovered a web of spider cracks throughout the windshield! Shocked, I instantly realized a huge expense had just been created through my own stupidity. No, my impatience. You see, the crucible of inconvenience had not completed its work. One of several impurities to be addressed is self-focused impatience. In the circumstantial environment of inconvenience, my impatience found expression through a rubber mallet. Staring in disbelief at the windshield left me no option but to acknowledge the existence of, and damage caused by, stubborn impatience. The financial element hurts, to be sure. But the emotional and spiritual cost is equally significant.
As I discover what it means to be a Christ-follower, it clearly suggests character development. One cannot determine to seek Christ-likeness without going through the process designed to make them Christ-like. Intellectually apprehending the Christian worldview is good and important, it nonetheless fails to address the whole problem of sin and separation from God. The nature of sin communicates itself through attitudes and behavior, an expression of character. Consequently, the growth process of becoming Christ-like centers in regeneration. Regeneration speaks to something much more fundamental than cognitive restructuring or moral improvement. It speaks of the old passing away, to be replaced by the new. It speaks of rebirth.
Okay, now for the windshield. As I sit here and write, it becomes clear that I am feeling deeply frustrated, regretting my careless and impatient behaviors. Yet I also notice a need to reduce the stress caused by seeing the ruined windshield. So, what should I do? Praying, of course is the first thought. Replacing the windshield quickly follows. But what is God wanting me to understand? Could he be teaching the art of patiently allowing circumstances beyond my control to simply be? Could he be showing me that my stubborn refusal to allow routine to be temporarily altered causes more problems than the circumstances themselves?
My relationship with God, with my wife and family, and myself are all immediately affected by my stubborn attitude. I fall into a routine and hold to it with annoying tenacity. God can’t freely use me if I live within a rut. He can only use a vessel willing to be used whatever may come. Inconvenience only becomes a problem when I appraise my routine more important than God’s direction… Now, to learn this for real!
Waking up the next morning, I peered out the bedroom window to find a large amount of ice had fallen. I dressed in warm clothing, grabbed a rubber mallet from the garage and commenced beating a thick layer of ice off the door latch and surrounding area. I then started the car to warm it up. As I impatiently assessed the amount of ice on the car, I decided to speed up the process by gently tapping the ice on the windshield. After several “gentle” smacks with the 3 pound rubber mallet, I returned into the house.
After 20 minutes or so, I went back outside to the car, wiping off the chunks of ice from the windshield. “What did I just do!?” I remarked to myself in utter horror. Removal of the ice uncovered a web of spider cracks throughout the windshield! Shocked, I instantly realized a huge expense had just been created through my own stupidity. No, my impatience. You see, the crucible of inconvenience had not completed its work. One of several impurities to be addressed is self-focused impatience. In the circumstantial environment of inconvenience, my impatience found expression through a rubber mallet. Staring in disbelief at the windshield left me no option but to acknowledge the existence of, and damage caused by, stubborn impatience. The financial element hurts, to be sure. But the emotional and spiritual cost is equally significant.
As I discover what it means to be a Christ-follower, it clearly suggests character development. One cannot determine to seek Christ-likeness without going through the process designed to make them Christ-like. Intellectually apprehending the Christian worldview is good and important, it nonetheless fails to address the whole problem of sin and separation from God. The nature of sin communicates itself through attitudes and behavior, an expression of character. Consequently, the growth process of becoming Christ-like centers in regeneration. Regeneration speaks to something much more fundamental than cognitive restructuring or moral improvement. It speaks of the old passing away, to be replaced by the new. It speaks of rebirth.
Okay, now for the windshield. As I sit here and write, it becomes clear that I am feeling deeply frustrated, regretting my careless and impatient behaviors. Yet I also notice a need to reduce the stress caused by seeing the ruined windshield. So, what should I do? Praying, of course is the first thought. Replacing the windshield quickly follows. But what is God wanting me to understand? Could he be teaching the art of patiently allowing circumstances beyond my control to simply be? Could he be showing me that my stubborn refusal to allow routine to be temporarily altered causes more problems than the circumstances themselves?
My relationship with God, with my wife and family, and myself are all immediately affected by my stubborn attitude. I fall into a routine and hold to it with annoying tenacity. God can’t freely use me if I live within a rut. He can only use a vessel willing to be used whatever may come. Inconvenience only becomes a problem when I appraise my routine more important than God’s direction… Now, to learn this for real!
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Crucible of Inconvenience
This morning I went out to start my car like I do every morning. There was a difference, however. My car wouldn’t start! For reasons yet to be discovered, the engine responded with a rr-rr-rr-rr instead of firing right up. I have my uneducated suspicions, based solely on conjecture, but for the moment, I am sipping hot coffee at Sweet One-O-One, nursing an injured heart that is - well, is angry.
As I mentioned, the morning began like so many, completely unaware of the upcoming circumstantial environment. I woke up, prayed with my wife, got a cup of fresh coffee and read. Moments later, my wife and I, when she arrives downstairs, sit at the kitchen table for a robust discussion. We talk about all kinds of stuff. This morning, I remember my final comments: character formation occurs in the crucible of hardship, much like the alloy of iron and carbon in an iron foundry. Those thoughts were fading into silence as I went outside, into the cold air to get into the car. That is when I discovered it!
RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Immediately my emotions stirred. RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Instead of the engine firing up, my frustration did! I felt my body shake. I wanted to scream and kick. I wanted to throw a fit and blame someone, anyone, for this inconvenience! Keeping my external behaviors in check, I walked back into the house to begin considering how to resolve this particular problem. My wife lovingly allowed me the space I needed to search frantically for a phone book. She listened quietly as I mumbled to myself. I wanted to simply scream and yell. I wanted to come unraveled for a few brief moments. But I know far too well my angry heart can spew out insensitive, cutting attitudes. So, I used all my strength to suppress the barbaric aggression as I prayed for God to help me maintain some semblance of control.
Once the necessary phone numbers were obtained, I decided to go to the coffee shop and cool off. Being it was only 7:00am, the idea of waiting until 9:00am or later seemed far too long. Getting a lift from my Mother-in-law, I arrived at the café and began writing. While there, I ran into a couple of people I knew. As we exchanged the usual pleasantries, I decided to also share a brief description of my morning. It helped. But what is really doing me good is journaling - and praying. God will carry me and I know the importance of connecting with others. The outcome will be alright. The journey, however, is another matter.
Circumstantial environment is a crucible. Heating the crucible is the fire of inconvenience. Changing my routine may seem rather benign from the outside, yet the internal, emotional response exposes a malignancy! The temporal experience of inconvenience, in the larger view, is not such a bad thing. It is something that rarely occurs which makes it seem so frustrating. Yet, I have listened to many men share struggles much more involved and distressing - and God has blessed them through it! May God have mercy and forgive my self-centered attitudes.
How is God growing you? How are you dealing with that? Who do you share your struggles with? Don’t try to go it alone…He is deeply passionate about your life and desires to see you flourish in his Son’s image!
As I mentioned, the morning began like so many, completely unaware of the upcoming circumstantial environment. I woke up, prayed with my wife, got a cup of fresh coffee and read. Moments later, my wife and I, when she arrives downstairs, sit at the kitchen table for a robust discussion. We talk about all kinds of stuff. This morning, I remember my final comments: character formation occurs in the crucible of hardship, much like the alloy of iron and carbon in an iron foundry. Those thoughts were fading into silence as I went outside, into the cold air to get into the car. That is when I discovered it!
RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Immediately my emotions stirred. RR-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr. Instead of the engine firing up, my frustration did! I felt my body shake. I wanted to scream and kick. I wanted to throw a fit and blame someone, anyone, for this inconvenience! Keeping my external behaviors in check, I walked back into the house to begin considering how to resolve this particular problem. My wife lovingly allowed me the space I needed to search frantically for a phone book. She listened quietly as I mumbled to myself. I wanted to simply scream and yell. I wanted to come unraveled for a few brief moments. But I know far too well my angry heart can spew out insensitive, cutting attitudes. So, I used all my strength to suppress the barbaric aggression as I prayed for God to help me maintain some semblance of control.
Once the necessary phone numbers were obtained, I decided to go to the coffee shop and cool off. Being it was only 7:00am, the idea of waiting until 9:00am or later seemed far too long. Getting a lift from my Mother-in-law, I arrived at the café and began writing. While there, I ran into a couple of people I knew. As we exchanged the usual pleasantries, I decided to also share a brief description of my morning. It helped. But what is really doing me good is journaling - and praying. God will carry me and I know the importance of connecting with others. The outcome will be alright. The journey, however, is another matter.
Circumstantial environment is a crucible. Heating the crucible is the fire of inconvenience. Changing my routine may seem rather benign from the outside, yet the internal, emotional response exposes a malignancy! The temporal experience of inconvenience, in the larger view, is not such a bad thing. It is something that rarely occurs which makes it seem so frustrating. Yet, I have listened to many men share struggles much more involved and distressing - and God has blessed them through it! May God have mercy and forgive my self-centered attitudes.
How is God growing you? How are you dealing with that? Who do you share your struggles with? Don’t try to go it alone…He is deeply passionate about your life and desires to see you flourish in his Son’s image!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
What Does Christian Behavior Looks Like?
I can recall my first ideas about what a good Christian looks like: don’t cuss, drink or smoke; don’t lie or tell dirty jokes; smile a lot. But is this a biblical notion? It’s not even close (except for not telling lies - we should all aspire to be truth-tellers).
What, then, is the biblical description of a Christian? We all have our ideas. We all try to live up to our ideas. But do our ideas truly correspond with the Bible’s description?
Before we crack open the Bible, take a moment and reflect on what you believe a Christian looks like. If you are unsure, then consider what you tell yourself you should be doing as a Christian. What do you expect of yourself? Do you try not to get angry and cuss? Do you scold yourself for smoking? Do you feel guilt and shame for drinking alcohol? How do you feel after having lied to someone? The answer to these questions help us see our ideas, or standards, of Christian behavior.
Now, let’s open the Bible. First, I want to consider Hebrews 11:6: “…without faith it is impossible to please God.” Would you agree that our desire to please God a biblical description of Christian behavior? Alright. So far, so good.
The next passage is in Matthew, the account of the rich young man. “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Listen carefully to the question. Jesus’ response is important (see Matt. 19:16-23; Luke 18:18-24; Mark 10:17-22).
You may be thinking, “You can’t get into heaven through good works.” And you are correct. But we have this stubborn notion that good behavior is important. You respond, “That is because God desires we mature into Christ-likeness.” Again, you are correct.
So what is the problem? Well, we want to determine what is important concerning Christian behavior. Is it just about not cussing, drinking, smoking, telling lies, etc.? To conclude my thoughts, let’s consider Matthew 25:31-46, the famous story about the sheep and the goats. Do you remember that story? What was the distinguishing feature most prominent between the sheep and the goats? It was acts of compassion! In the deepest places of God’s heart, he desires we share his warm, grace-filled compassion with those suffering. When you reach out to touch a hurting soul with the compassion of Christ, you are engaging in the highest form of Christian behavior. And that, my friend, is the first step in learning what Christian behavior looks like.
What, then, is the biblical description of a Christian? We all have our ideas. We all try to live up to our ideas. But do our ideas truly correspond with the Bible’s description?
Before we crack open the Bible, take a moment and reflect on what you believe a Christian looks like. If you are unsure, then consider what you tell yourself you should be doing as a Christian. What do you expect of yourself? Do you try not to get angry and cuss? Do you scold yourself for smoking? Do you feel guilt and shame for drinking alcohol? How do you feel after having lied to someone? The answer to these questions help us see our ideas, or standards, of Christian behavior.
Now, let’s open the Bible. First, I want to consider Hebrews 11:6: “…without faith it is impossible to please God.” Would you agree that our desire to please God a biblical description of Christian behavior? Alright. So far, so good.
The next passage is in Matthew, the account of the rich young man. “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” Listen carefully to the question. Jesus’ response is important (see Matt. 19:16-23; Luke 18:18-24; Mark 10:17-22).
You may be thinking, “You can’t get into heaven through good works.” And you are correct. But we have this stubborn notion that good behavior is important. You respond, “That is because God desires we mature into Christ-likeness.” Again, you are correct.
So what is the problem? Well, we want to determine what is important concerning Christian behavior. Is it just about not cussing, drinking, smoking, telling lies, etc.? To conclude my thoughts, let’s consider Matthew 25:31-46, the famous story about the sheep and the goats. Do you remember that story? What was the distinguishing feature most prominent between the sheep and the goats? It was acts of compassion! In the deepest places of God’s heart, he desires we share his warm, grace-filled compassion with those suffering. When you reach out to touch a hurting soul with the compassion of Christ, you are engaging in the highest form of Christian behavior. And that, my friend, is the first step in learning what Christian behavior looks like.
Friday, January 21, 2011
The Crucible of Character
Galatians 5:16 “…live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.”
There are 4 cardinal virtues: Wisdom (Prudence), Justice, Courage (Fortitude), and Temperance. While, as humans, we have the capacity for acquiring these moral excellences, they are not naturally endowed. We must acquire them by doing the acts. That is why Paul instructed us, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him, you are slaves to the one whom you obey.”
The above mentioned virtues are cultivated through habitual practice. Our character as an adult is determined by the habitual acts we choose to engage. The neural mapping of our brain is designed so that every behavior establishes a neural pathway. As each behavior is repeated, the neural pathway becomes more firmly embedded. What began as conscious choices soon becomes “normalized,” finally to become automatic, unconscious responses. This is, from a neuroscience perspective, how we acquire character.
Aristotle, remarkably accurate in his understanding of character development, places great emphasis on one’s own ability to acquire and cultivate moral excellences. Paul makes no such assertion. He unashamedly places his entire dependence upon God’s resources for character development (see Philippians 3:9).
Additional to the 4 cardinal virtues are 3 theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Now, let’s get a clear picture of what Paul was teaching us. First of all, Paul tells us the foundation of our lives has already been laid: Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). Secondly, he instructs us concerning the materials we are to build upon the foundation (1 Cor. 3:12). Peter comes to our aid just here and helps us see the benefit (2 Peter 1:8).
Please forgive the redundancy, but I wish to be as clear as possible.
1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (see also Isaiah 28:16).
1 Corinthians 3:12 “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones…”
Love
Faith and Hope
Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance 2 Peter 1:8 “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
One final point. The Crucible of Character is a pathway described in Romans 5:3-4, “…we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope.” The greatest character change occurs deep in the trenches of suffering. For those who have experienced this, they know this truth well. In fact, the most familiar emblem of Christianity is a symbol of unimaginable torture and suffering: the cross.
Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.”
There are 4 cardinal virtues: Wisdom (Prudence), Justice, Courage (Fortitude), and Temperance. While, as humans, we have the capacity for acquiring these moral excellences, they are not naturally endowed. We must acquire them by doing the acts. That is why Paul instructed us, “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him, you are slaves to the one whom you obey.”
The above mentioned virtues are cultivated through habitual practice. Our character as an adult is determined by the habitual acts we choose to engage. The neural mapping of our brain is designed so that every behavior establishes a neural pathway. As each behavior is repeated, the neural pathway becomes more firmly embedded. What began as conscious choices soon becomes “normalized,” finally to become automatic, unconscious responses. This is, from a neuroscience perspective, how we acquire character.
Aristotle, remarkably accurate in his understanding of character development, places great emphasis on one’s own ability to acquire and cultivate moral excellences. Paul makes no such assertion. He unashamedly places his entire dependence upon God’s resources for character development (see Philippians 3:9).
Additional to the 4 cardinal virtues are 3 theological virtues: Faith, Hope and Love (see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Now, let’s get a clear picture of what Paul was teaching us. First of all, Paul tells us the foundation of our lives has already been laid: Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 3:11). Secondly, he instructs us concerning the materials we are to build upon the foundation (1 Cor. 3:12). Peter comes to our aid just here and helps us see the benefit (2 Peter 1:8).
Please forgive the redundancy, but I wish to be as clear as possible.
1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (see also Isaiah 28:16).
1 Corinthians 3:12 “If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones…”
Faith and Hope
Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance
One final point. The Crucible of Character is a pathway described in Romans 5:3-4, “…we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; character, hope.” The greatest character change occurs deep in the trenches of suffering. For those who have experienced this, they know this truth well. In fact, the most familiar emblem of Christianity is a symbol of unimaginable torture and suffering: the cross.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Confident Hope
“God is able to give us interior resources to confront the trials and difficulties in life… He is able to provide inner peace amid outer storms. This inner stability of the man of faith is Christ’s chief legacy to his disciples. He offers neither material resources nor a magical formula that exempts us from suffering and persecution, but he brings us an imperishable gift: ‘Peace I leave with thee.’” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with…peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Apostle Paul to the Roman Church (Romans 15:13).
There is something about experiencing a deep, resonating peace when facing hard times. There is something about remaining calm when circumstances bring pain and confusion. Deep in the heart of faith is a reservoir of hope. It is this hope that contains a life-giving power possessed only by the Holy Spirit.
Our relationship with God, through Jesus, finds its ultimate expression in compassion toward others. But this first comes as we enter into a conscious awareness of His love for us. As our intimate experience of God’s love matures, our ability to demonstrate the love we have received enlarges.
Often we find ourselves searching to feel good, to feel better than we do. Little do we understand that God’s peace, hope and joy are not simply to help us feel good. They are attributes of God’s character purposing to work through us. Why? So we might share something of God’s image within us.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Apostle Paul were not embarking a quest for mystical knowledge on a spiritual plane. Rather, they were enlightening us concerning the appropriate manner in which one experiences a life of true faith and love. Both men urged us to seek God as the ultimate source of peace. The outcome of such searching leads us to experience the outworking of the gospel.
Ivory tower theology belongs within the confines of cognitive castles. Jesus’ theology, however, was deeply intelligent and wise, communicating a doctrine that produced profound, illuminating conviction. One could not walk with Jesus for long and not discover this. Yes, there is something about a deeply resonating calm emerging from an unfathomable peace. It is the confident hope we find through a relationship with Christ.
May God bless richly...
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with…peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Apostle Paul to the Roman Church (Romans 15:13).
There is something about experiencing a deep, resonating peace when facing hard times. There is something about remaining calm when circumstances bring pain and confusion. Deep in the heart of faith is a reservoir of hope. It is this hope that contains a life-giving power possessed only by the Holy Spirit.
Our relationship with God, through Jesus, finds its ultimate expression in compassion toward others. But this first comes as we enter into a conscious awareness of His love for us. As our intimate experience of God’s love matures, our ability to demonstrate the love we have received enlarges.
Often we find ourselves searching to feel good, to feel better than we do. Little do we understand that God’s peace, hope and joy are not simply to help us feel good. They are attributes of God’s character purposing to work through us. Why? So we might share something of God’s image within us.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Apostle Paul were not embarking a quest for mystical knowledge on a spiritual plane. Rather, they were enlightening us concerning the appropriate manner in which one experiences a life of true faith and love. Both men urged us to seek God as the ultimate source of peace. The outcome of such searching leads us to experience the outworking of the gospel.
Ivory tower theology belongs within the confines of cognitive castles. Jesus’ theology, however, was deeply intelligent and wise, communicating a doctrine that produced profound, illuminating conviction. One could not walk with Jesus for long and not discover this. Yes, there is something about a deeply resonating calm emerging from an unfathomable peace. It is the confident hope we find through a relationship with Christ.
May God bless richly...
Sunday, January 2, 2011
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Greetings!
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi.
In the yearning soul of every man has a desire for the transcendent divine. He longs deeply to drink in the intimate affection of friendship. For the man who seems unmoved by such statements, the sad truth is that disappointment has robbed him. Hopelessness, like some nefarious fog, has shrouded his heart in the shadows of dark abandon. His existence is little more than a grim search for momentary relief, a brief chance to escape the desolate labyrinth of life.
However, for men whose soul has been awakened, they discover an impassioned exuberance igniting a spark in the deep chambers of their heart. Their minds are illuminated by the light of Christ’s life. These men, while moved by yearning desires and deep longing, also feel deeply the pain of disappointment and know the dark despair of hopelessness. The difference lies in that their life is animated by rich interaction and meaningful purpose.
The above two paragraphs can come across a bit more like a story than real life. There are many in our current culture who find language like that above rather poetic, somehow disconnected. The more common and “blue-collar” our words, they may claim, the more accurate it conveys real life. Sadly, our understanding is stunted as we devalue language that seeks to unveil the deeply emotional and spiritual terrain of our faith journey. We lose the ability to “see” the rich undercurrents of God‘s providential care, considering empirically verifiable data as the only “real” stuff of life.
How does all this help me communicate Gandhi’s statement? For one thing, in order to plummet the depth of Gandhi’s words, we must first realize that, regardless who captures God’s truth, we must learn to recognize it. In other words, this is God’s world. He can use whomever he chooses to reveal his thoughts. Another point is this: discovering the truth of any statement requires critical thought. Simply put, intelligently evaluating any truth claim requires us to think carefully through an issue.
As Knights of Uncommon Valor, God calls us to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16 KJV). This kind of wisdom is not merely intellectual, but, since true wisdom comes from God, it nurtures a Christ-like character (see James 3:17-18 in both NIV and The Message). Change begins with us. God is the source of authentic change. And the change we desire to see in the world must be the change we see in ourselves - first.
In His Service,
Jeff
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi.
In the yearning soul of every man has a desire for the transcendent divine. He longs deeply to drink in the intimate affection of friendship. For the man who seems unmoved by such statements, the sad truth is that disappointment has robbed him. Hopelessness, like some nefarious fog, has shrouded his heart in the shadows of dark abandon. His existence is little more than a grim search for momentary relief, a brief chance to escape the desolate labyrinth of life.
However, for men whose soul has been awakened, they discover an impassioned exuberance igniting a spark in the deep chambers of their heart. Their minds are illuminated by the light of Christ’s life. These men, while moved by yearning desires and deep longing, also feel deeply the pain of disappointment and know the dark despair of hopelessness. The difference lies in that their life is animated by rich interaction and meaningful purpose.
The above two paragraphs can come across a bit more like a story than real life. There are many in our current culture who find language like that above rather poetic, somehow disconnected. The more common and “blue-collar” our words, they may claim, the more accurate it conveys real life. Sadly, our understanding is stunted as we devalue language that seeks to unveil the deeply emotional and spiritual terrain of our faith journey. We lose the ability to “see” the rich undercurrents of God‘s providential care, considering empirically verifiable data as the only “real” stuff of life.
How does all this help me communicate Gandhi’s statement? For one thing, in order to plummet the depth of Gandhi’s words, we must first realize that, regardless who captures God’s truth, we must learn to recognize it. In other words, this is God’s world. He can use whomever he chooses to reveal his thoughts. Another point is this: discovering the truth of any statement requires critical thought. Simply put, intelligently evaluating any truth claim requires us to think carefully through an issue.
As Knights of Uncommon Valor, God calls us to be “wise as serpents” (Matthew 10:16 KJV). This kind of wisdom is not merely intellectual, but, since true wisdom comes from God, it nurtures a Christ-like character (see James 3:17-18 in both NIV and The Message). Change begins with us. God is the source of authentic change. And the change we desire to see in the world must be the change we see in ourselves - first.
In His Service,
Jeff
Men's Ministry Weekly Devotional
What is Men's Ministry? For every man who asks this question, there is a particular answer. Let me couch the same question a bit differently. Remember when Jesus asked the disciples what the public was saying about who he was? Then he asked them, more pointedly, who do YOU say I am? We know that Peter answered correctly. Jesus made it clear that God illuminated Peter concerning this truth. For the other answers given, I would like to call those "subjective views." Why? Because each disciple had a habitual way of processing information. We call this a worldview. The result is that each disciple came up with their own conclusions based on outside opinions (see Matthew 16:13-14; Mark 8:27-28 & Luke 18-19).
Peter responded to Jesus' question, "You are the Christ, the Son of living God!" (Matthew 16:16). Does this mean that Peter was immune to a worldview. By all means, no! But we do learn that God's ability to reveal the truth can penetrate even the most stubborn of worldviews.
How does this help us to understand what men's ministry is? Well, each man has an opinion. They vary the spectrum from whole-hearted support to complete disinterest. And for each opinion, there is a worldview. If we want God to illuminate our minds to "see" what men's minstry really is, we have all we need for that to occur. First, we have the Bible recording Jesus' behavior and how he impacted his immediate world. Secondly, we have an abundance of teachers and pastors to help us see deeper into Jesus' identity as a man. Thirdly, we have the Holy Spirit to reveal spiritual truths to our finite minds. Lastly, we have men with whom we connect in life.
When men gather and begin exploring their lives, the lives of others, and God himself, a powerful thing happens: those same men experience Christ is a way they could never have outside men's groups. To be sure, each one of us has our own journey. Therefore, no one else can live our lives for us. We alone can choose to experience a deeper life in Christ. Spiritual growth is something we must be proactive about.
So, what is men's ministry? Well, it can be what you make of it. Or, it can be something God-inspired. The choice is ours to make. What's yours?
Peter responded to Jesus' question, "You are the Christ, the Son of living God!" (Matthew 16:16). Does this mean that Peter was immune to a worldview. By all means, no! But we do learn that God's ability to reveal the truth can penetrate even the most stubborn of worldviews.
How does this help us to understand what men's ministry is? Well, each man has an opinion. They vary the spectrum from whole-hearted support to complete disinterest. And for each opinion, there is a worldview. If we want God to illuminate our minds to "see" what men's minstry really is, we have all we need for that to occur. First, we have the Bible recording Jesus' behavior and how he impacted his immediate world. Secondly, we have an abundance of teachers and pastors to help us see deeper into Jesus' identity as a man. Thirdly, we have the Holy Spirit to reveal spiritual truths to our finite minds. Lastly, we have men with whom we connect in life.
When men gather and begin exploring their lives, the lives of others, and God himself, a powerful thing happens: those same men experience Christ is a way they could never have outside men's groups. To be sure, each one of us has our own journey. Therefore, no one else can live our lives for us. We alone can choose to experience a deeper life in Christ. Spiritual growth is something we must be proactive about.
So, what is men's ministry? Well, it can be what you make of it. Or, it can be something God-inspired. The choice is ours to make. What's yours?
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