Change of Scenery

Recently I have been trying to keep things updated on two blogs and one website. I have not done a good job of any of it simply because it takes so much time. Consequently, I am making a change.

I am consolidating everything on one site - my Wordpress site.

http://www.normmacdonald.wordpress.com/

I have just finished updating the Wordpress blog with articles, poems, web links, and the like. The articles and poems are on page two...there is a link for that page on the right hand column. I have also added some great web links...Woot, Giveaway of the Day, Lee Park Baptist Church, and the prayer request site for Lee Park called Prayer Workz (somebody already had "Works").

It is my hope that you will join me there and of course, tell your friends. :)

God Bless.

http://www.normmacdonald.wordpress.com/

Orthodoxy

When some one uses the phrase, "It's like herding a bunch of cats," there is little doubt that what they are talking about is chaos. Orthodoxy is somewhat like that - herding cats, that is.

Orthodoxy is, by its very nature, orthodox. That is, conforming to a set of beliefs, uniform standards or established conventions. When some one is described as "unorthodox" it simply means they are not conforming to what is expected.

Orthodoxy is often translated beyond beliefs into the area of behavior. For the fact of the matter, they are combined to a large degree - one's belief determines their behavior. Also, one's behavior is indicative of their belief system. The problem is with the former set-up, belief determining behavior.

In Luke's gospel, John the Baptist was having a struggle with orthodoxy. The "lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," was not conforming to expectations. Consequently, he sends some of his disciples (John himself was in prison) to ask Jesus, "Are you really the one we have been expecting, because you sure don't act like it (loose paraphrase on my part)." Not only was Jesus not conforming to the religious leader's expectations of the Messiah, he was throwing John a curve ball that he was not ready to catch.

Orthodoxy often breeds complacency or a false confidence. Then, when some one breaches the walls of our traditional belief system, we wonder "How can this be? This is not at all what I was expecting."

Jesus tells the disciples of John to go back and tell him, "I am doing exactly what the prophet Isaiah proclaimed the messiah would do. It may not be what you or these other people expected, but it is what the gospel of the Kingdom is all about (again a loose paraphrase)."

For me at least, it seems the lesson from all of this is relatively clear. The Word of God should dictate my belief system - orthodoxy. My belief system should not dictate how I interpret the Word of God.  I find that I must constantly remind myself of this as I read scripture. I must allow it to speak to me based on its very nature as the Word of God. Then it is important that I adjust my belief system to what it says. Not what I want it to say or think it should say.

A hard lesson, but one I am learning.

Just Say the Word!

Growing up, when those who were my senior, or my parents, or a person I worked for said, "Do this" - I did it. No questions asked, I just did it. Now days that is not usually the case, either for me, or for others, even kids. Everybody what's to know "why," or what's in it for me if I do that thing. Or, they simply say, "no."  I expect the only place that is different is in the military. From what I understand, you question an order in the field and it could cost you or someone else their life.

In Matthew 8 and Luke 7, there are stories of a centurion and his slave. Each gospel writer has varying details to the story, but for the most part the stories seem to reflect the same incident.

Each story stresses the centurion's words that he is "not worthy" for Jesus to come to his house for the healing. Just like any good military man, if he said to his troops "Go," they went. Consequently he felt it was sufficient that if Jesus simply said the word, his servant would be healed.

In Luke's account, the writer goes to some length to justify the worthiness of the centurion by having the elders of the Jews say, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue (v. 4-5)."  Jesus does not even give this justification credence by responding to it. What he responds to is the centurions expression of faith - "say the word" and it will be so.

Jesus "marveled at him" not because the centurion's servant "was highly valued," not because the elders of the Jews said the centurion was worthy, not because he helped build a synagogue, Jesus marveled at him because of his expression of faith - say the word and I believe it will be done.

I don't know about you, but I'm a justifier. Somehow it seems I must justify to God why He might want to do something for me or someone else. And often I have a long list of justifiers. The reality of it is, those justifiers simply expose my pitiful faith. There are times when the simplest and best thing to do is come before God and ask that He just "say the word" believing that what we ask will be done.

Builders for Life

When was the last time you built an 8 million dollar home?  When was the last time you built an 8 million dollar home and found it to be uninhabitable because of shoddy workmanship?

That is exactly what happened to actress Sandra Bullock and her new dream home in Austin, TX.  After years of waiting and just a few nights in the home, she has moved out and sued the builders for shoddy work. She plans to demolish the house and start over. 

Reading that account reminded me of a story I had come across years ago. A major contractor was taking an extended trip to Europe. He gave his foreman a million dollars to build a house. One of the conditions of building the house, was that whatever savings the foreman could accrue in the construction would be his. Well, the foreman skimped in many areas of the construction and saved almost half the amount he had been allotted.  When the owner of the company returned from Europe, he looked over the house and received the foreman's report.  The foreman was quite proud of how well he had done, not actually telling the owner about the quality of materials - or lack there of - used in building the house.

When the tour was finished, the owner was true to his word, but instead of writing the foreman a check for what he had saved, he simply handed him the key and said, "Here, the house is yours."

At the closing of Jesus' sermon on the mount, he said that those who hear his words and fail to incorporate them in their life will be like someone building a shoddy house with an unstable foundation. Those people who hear AND do what he has been teaching will be like the one who builds their house on a solid, unmovable foundation.

Make no mistake, we are builders. Each one who claims the name of Christ is a builder - a builder for life. As such, we either hear and not do, or hear and do. We can skimp or we can give our very best. Either way, one day, Jesus is going to hand us the key and say, "Here, the house is yours!"

     "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
     But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great."  (Luke 6:46-49 ESV)

Sometimes You Just Shouldn't

There are certain days of my work week when I do mostly reading. I have never been a voracious reader. As a kid, reading ranked right up there with eating peas. My seminary days probably marked my most extensive excursion into the printed page.  Anyway, in my present situation, I do - what is for me - a good deal of reading.

What I am learning is this--- sometimes you shouldn't! Sometimes too much reading is dangerous and depressing. It can squelch the spirit and stifle one's enthusiasm. Here are just a few examples:

• Presidential candidate Obama probably redefines the word liberal and people are totally unaware. His stance on abortion is beyond liberal. His position toward the gay and lesbian rights will push this country to normalize that behavior and his position on Federal funding for faith-based community programs is conditioned on hiring without regard to religious beliefs, sexual identity and orientation.  (Dobson & Mohler comments, BPNews On-Line Newsletter 7/21 ; "Soul Searching", World Magazine, July 26/August 2, 2008, 38)
• Medical doctor leaves a six figure job to devote himself full-time, not to missions, or helping poor communities with healthcare, but to pursue blogging full time - another six figure job. (Yahoo.Com, macrumors, 7/21)
• A transgender Oregon woman - living as a man gives birth and claims that doing so "doesn't make (him) less of a man." (World, ibid, 11)
• Sarah and Jacob lie and poor old and blind Abraham has no clue he is being duped.  (Genesis 27)
• Finding one's writing style and realizing that getting your work in print is more than an uphill battle and can take years and years of perseverance. (Ethel Herr, An Introduction to Christian Writing, (Highland Books, Godalming, Surrey and Write Now Publishing, Phoenix, AZ, 1999) 150-173

Well, I suspect there is no sense in spoiling your day. So I gather you get the idea. Sometimes you just shouldn't!

Then again, there are glorious days when reading can make my spirit soar and lift my heart to unimaginable heights. Many of those days are spent among the same pages where the "liars" live. For grace often abounds with just the flip of a page.

I like those days. 

Scan Is Complete

When I replaced my old laptop, it took several days for me to get the new one set up.

One of the programs that came pre-installed with the new laptop was a trial version of Norton 360 Security Suite, a program that monitors for viruses, blocks spam mail and looks for spyware intrusions. I have had these programs before and often had my work interrupted while it did its work. I like this one because it does all its work in the background. It basically runs unnoticed until a pop-up messages tells me that the "scan is complete."

The program runs on a regular basis and the intent is to keep  my computer safe from intruders, whether the malicious kind or merely the annoying kind. When it finds anything, it gives me options to keep what it finds, quarantine, or delete them.

When the message "scan is complete" popped up this morning, I thought, "The Holy Spirit scans my life regularly and lists those things that are harmful to my soul. Areas that still need a good deal of work and attention - harmful things that I could place in quarantine, or simply delete before they cause harm."  But am I paying attention?

Yes, I am convicted, from time to time, of areas that are not pleasing to the Lord. Nevertheless, I suspect there are many more areas that lay hidden in the background, running silently, like a malicious virus, waiting to destroy or distort the longings of my heart. For all intents and purposes I am unaware of their presence and seldom feel their impact until it is too late.

Each day, it is important that I open my heart to the Holy Spirit and ask the LORD to scan every part of my being. As the Psalmist said,

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  (Psalm 139:23-24)

Then, once God shows me where the problems are, it is imperative that I take care of them. Not doing so could cause serious problems down the road and impact my testimony for Christ.

Watch Out Here Come The Words!

Blogs are a unique venue. Anyone can write one and random people from anywhere in the world can read them once they stumble across them. They provide an avenue for releasing one's thoughts on the general public for a variety of reasons. Political blogs can pound politicians. Personal blogs can expose more person than one cares to see or hear. Religious blogs can take people down paths that only the unintelligent might follow. There are blogs for photography, music, writing, Information Technology, children's issues, and marriage issues. You name the topic, wholesome or not, and chances are there is a blog that speaks to that issue.

Everyone hopes that others will read their blog. Some may even expect to become "well-known" because of their blog. However, most bloggers are simply using a specific forum to express themselves.

The thing about blogs is that they provide a clean slate on which to put words. Words are powerful things whether written on a blog or spoken to another person. They can encourage and heal, they can discourage and wound. At times either of those intents can be used by the blogger intentionally or unintentionally.

Basically, in our country and in the blogosphere, we are free to say anything. I am free to say anything. But does that mean I should?

Yesterday, while at the doctor's office, I noticed they had a picture of Laura and President Bush hanging on one of the file cabinets. Someone had taken a marker and drawn devil like attributes on the President's face.  My comment to the nurse was this, "There are some countries where you would be shot for doing that." Her response was, "They must not be free countries."  "You are right," I said and then continued, "Just because we are free to do something does not mean we should. He is still the President of the United States and we ought to respect that."

I am learning that blogs are the same way. Just because we can write something does not mean that we should. The writer of Proverbs says it this way:

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is deemed intelligent.  (17:27-28)

Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Let's Have a Healing

Our world has its share of faith healers. But let's face it, many if not most are merely charlatans and money grabbers. Nevertheless, crowds flock to their assemblies. Some out of curiosity, like NASCAR fans hoping to see the big wreck, others genuinely seeking a healing.

In our country, we don't see much actual healing going on as a result of faithful prayers or miraculous works. But it does happen. In other countries, those countries that don't get bogged down with the doubts that plague our western civilization, it is seen more frequently.

When Jesus healed, he healed! It was not a time issue, other than instantaneous. The healing was just that - a healing.

Because the disciple Luke apparently had a medical background, healings are significant to him. In the gospel of Luke, as Jesus comes down from the mountain after selecting the twelve apostles, he records a rather significant event. Crowds are coming to Jesus not to spy out or test his ministry and legitimacy, but to experience his ministry through a healing. In Luke 6:17-19 it is recorded that those with diseases were being healed and those being harassed by evil spirits were cured.

Now I think it is interesting that Luke makes the distinction between diseases and the annoying work of evil spirits. It is one thing to suffer the effects of, lets say, diabetes. It is quite another to have your mind and heart harassed by evil spirits. Diabetes is selective, the suppressing anguish that comes from the evil one can be considered random and almost universal in potential. Yet, Jesus heals them all.

For believers, we can be victims of a plethora of diseases. There is no exemption for those in Christ. However, what can impact our testimony and ability to follow Christ is the annoying sniping of evil spirits. Like picking at a wound that is trying to heal, the enemy seeks to harass and squeeze us in such a way that we hang on to fears, doubts, and and guilt. Just when we think we've made a breakthrough he throws a rock through the window of our mind and says, "Not so fast!"

Those in Christ can never be possessed by evil spirits, it is incongruent with the presence of the Holy Spirit. However, that does not prevent the demons of hell from pushing us down and attacking us like annoying flies at a picnic - except with greater consequence.

Luke tells us that "all the crowd sought to touch (Jesus), for power came out from him and healed them all."  It is through the power of Christ and the shield of protection the Holy Spirit provides that we find a healing from this onslaught of evil and tormentors of the mind.  The demons of darkness cannot abide in the light of Christ.

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."  James 4:7

Could You? Would You?

I have been shopping for Bible software to aide my study and writing projects. It seemed interesting to me that most every program offered had some variety of "daily reading" program that would allow you to keep on track and read the Bible in its entirety. A nice feature to be sure.

In fact, many churches have programs in place to lead their people through a systematic reading of scripture in order to complete the Bible in a year. An achievement worth recognizing until....

In the most recent issue of Christian History and Biography there is a rather detailed history of the church in China - its roots and how it is thriving today. Throughout that article, there were sidebars noting specific people who played a significant role in the history of Christianity in China. Fascinating segments to be sure. However, let me point out a couple of "facts" about two of them.

John Sung (1901-1944)  Based on the article, it is said that after his conversion Mr. Sung attended seminary and apparently was so zealous for his faith that the seminary president had him committed to an insane asylum. "For the next 193 days he read the Bible 40 times."     40 times...did you get that? That's basically once every 5 days!

Wang Mingdad (1900-1991)  At one point in his life he retreated to the hills outside Beijing and "read the Bible through six times in 62 days."

Now granted, during those times these men did not have "work", a family to tend to, lawns to mow and trash to take out. Nevertheless, those are staggering numbers!  And to think, we're proud when, or if, we get through the Bible in a year!

Reading this article - the sacrifices Chinese Christians made to spread the gospel and deepen their faith as followers of Christ -- it made me realize how pitiful my efforts are as a disciple.

Now it is true, reading the Bible through in a year, a month, or a week does not necessarily make one a "better" Christian. However I suspect it would have a huge impact. 

Now indulge my math - for me, using my current study Bible if I read the Bible in a year, it would mean five pages a day. Of course those pages include study notes and sidebars, so in fact, I could read more of actual biblical content.  If I did it in six months, that would mean ten pages a day, three months, right at 21 pages a day.  Uhm.....I think I can do that.

Any takers for the six or three month challenge?  Of course it may mean less television, sacrificing some sleep, or forgoing some other activities, but imagine the joy of accomplishing the feat and the blessing from scripture. It would be akin to fasting and reading at the same time, since something most likely has to go.

I'm shooting for an August 1st start date and a three month goal. That will give me time to mentally prepare and perhaps get a head start. It also provides an easy measuring point for month to month progress.

Could you? Would you? join in the challenge.

If you are currently doing a "read-the-Bible-through-in-a-year" program, it is just a matter of ramping things up since you should be more than half way through already.

Here are some tips...

• If you have a hand held PDA or something similar, you can go to E-Sword.net and download the Bible to that device. That way, anywhere, anytime, you can keep reading. 
• Programs are also available for your laptop or desktop PC.  I'm not promoting E-Sword per se, it's just free and I like free. Besides, I am currently using it. 
• If you think you'll get distracted from sidebars and your own notes in the Bible you have, order a new inexpensive Bible to use and leave pens and pencils in the desk while you are reading.
• Ask the cooperation from family members for some uninterrupted reading time (good luck). If they agree, have them check-in on you from time to time to make sure you are still awake!
• Seek some one to hold you accountable.
• Do your best to go Genesis to Revelation, reading programs that bounce around tend to distort the flow.

I'm excited. But I want to be certain we do not lose sight of the tremendous sacrifice the men mentioned above made and the Chinese Christians are still making today for the cause of Christ. Persecution breeds strength and perseverance.  Romans 5:3-4.   Pray for China.

* Christian History & Biography, (Issue 98, Spring 2008) 12,21

On The Scales

It always strikes me odd, when going to the doctors, that the nurse has me stand on the scales as is. I'm never certain how they actually come to a determination of my benchmark weight. One day I could be wearing shorts, a T-shirt and carrying my laptop. The next time I go in, I could be wearing jeans, cowboy boots, dress shirt, and carrying my Bible. They never seem to care.

When it comes to my spiritual growth, I am often just as uncertain regarding my benchmark weight. I suspect others are also.

In a recent survey done by LifeWay, a branch of the Southern Baptists, they asked people to "describe or illustrate evidence of their spiritual growth." Some of the responses they received were:

-- "I'm much calmer."
-- "I'm a better friend."
-- "I'm a better person and more caring."
-- "My marriage is better."
-- "I am better at running my household to care for my family; I made some changes to facilitate hospitality in our home."
--"I am more tolerant of people."
-- "There aren't many outward 'signs.' The growth I experienced is manifested more on a personal level."

When I read these, I thought they were pretty weak. No real reflection of growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ, or becoming "renewed" or a transforming of the mind, etc. Then I thought, "How would I answer that question?" Here is what I might say:

• More sensitive to sin and quick to confess and repent
• More involved in God's Word and striving to become a better student of its teaching
• Aware of my personality traits and how they impact my testimony for Christ
• Struggling to stay aware that I live by grace, through faith and not by works - there is nothing I can do to atone for my past or influence the present
• Loving my wife more, being a better spiritual leader, and showing more love to my children and grandchildren (3 in 1)

I suspect there may be more I should list or could list, but that's a decent start.

It is uncertain whether my answers are any better than those from the survey. Perhaps I am couching mine in spiritual terms and the other respondents did not. However, I suspect, that when you peel back the truth of their responses, you might find some revealing weaknesses.

What precipitates the kind of responses from people listed from the survey? Is it that they are not being fed either from the pulpit or in Bible Study classes? Is it that they refuse to "eat" when they are being fed? Is it that they have never progressed from the milk of the word?

The title of the article in the BP News is Shifting Sand. Where does this sand start shifting? Perhaps poor preaching, but I suspect it comes more from weak teaching in the Sunday School class or Bible studies. This is where shifting sand and slippery slopes begin to evidence themselves in the church at large and individual believer’s lives. Whether it is an off-handed comment, an under developed theme, or neutral study materials, things like that can lead not only to a very blurry benchmark, but they also provide the kind of fodder that blurs what is and is not spiritual growth

How would you answer the question if someone asked you to describe or illustrate evidence of your spiritual growth? Can you look back at a benchmark period and say, "This is where I was then, this is where I am now as a follower of Christ."

I go back to the doctors Friday, maybe I'll go naked so they get a true benchmark and a good laugh when I step on the scales!

"Mixed" Blessing

On this blog, my attempt is to be fairly transparent and somewhat vulnerable with my spiritual journey. Therefore, this particular topic fits nicely, since it challenges the capacity of my heart to love, forgive, and accept.

While we were in Texas this past weekend, it was reported on the news that the State of Texas is investing millions in what they call "pre-marital" counseling. Their hope is to stem the tide in that state (and I suspect other states) where one of every two marriages ends in divorce.  That's a noble cause and a heavy statistic. Yet, that is reality.

My folks were divorced, I have been divorced, and my oldest son has been divorced - for some of us, more than once. That sets up a certain scenario that many people do not often take into account. How grandparents meld with a mixed family.  It is hard enough for the parents, but uniquely awkward for the grandparents.

Within the past year, my wife and I multiplied our number of grandchildren. We went from four to eight. If you take into account the children from my son's previous marriage, the number is actually eleven. This is indeed a challenge.

Obviously the kids have no control over their situation and, in reality, neither do we as grandparents. By in large, our role is to accept and love. Often, easier said than done. Nevertheless, I believe we have been somewhat successful in the challenge.

The writer of Proverbs said that "Grandchildren are the crown of old men..." Literally, the sons of sons - in other words, those carrying the family name. In mixed families, this line becomes blurred, because sons may now have different fathers. Even though, for example, my son may adopt his three new sons and give them his name, are they truly carrying the family name? Even my son, because his mother and I were divorced, has a different name than mine, which means his sons have different names - so is it my "name" that continues or his adopted dad's name that moves along in time. Blood says one thing, name says another.

All of this is indeed a difficult to sort out. However, what comes as a challenge to our hearts is welcoming with love, joy, and an open heart, the mixed blessing of all our grandchildren. Forming bonds, and building relationships is our goal.

We cannot control how our son manages his marriage. Our hope and desire is that this bond will be the one that lasts "'til death do we part." Nevertheless, the children involved have no control over the outcome of the marriage, they are simply fellow travelers in that journey, as are the grandparents.

What that means for us -- we have a quiver full of grand kids. All delightful, all full of fun, all innocent in many regards and blended together. Each one is special in their own right and occupying a special place in our hearts, no matter what.

It is truly a mixed blessing.

Thank you Father for the joy of grand children.

He Can

Often overlooked, but overflowing with significance, is one of the first encounters Jesus has after a band of disciples began to follow him. The incident involved a man with leprosy. The exchange basically goes like this:

"Jesus, if you decide you want to, you are able to cleanse me from this disease," said the man with leprosy.

"Oh my friend, I have decided and I choose to do exactly that," said Jesus.

This exchange is one of my favorite in all of scripture. It exposes the vulnerability of the man asking and the tenderness of the man responding. It demonstrates Jesus' "want to" side. And it shows the new disciples exactly the type of man they have chosen to follow. Not just a man with powerful words and insightful teaching, but a man with a tender touch and a willingness to meet the needs of individuals, not just society - as they may have expected.

The amazing thing about this account is the "want to" of Jesus. I forget about that some times when I am praying or simply living my life. I lose sight of how he wants me to meet my needs, he wants to see me grow, he chooses to come along side through the Holy Spirit and guide me.

I think at times I approach God not truly confident there is a "want to" side. That somehow I must convince or cajole. That my roles is to plead my case instead of simply saying, "If You choose to, you can..."

There is not magic formula for understanding the "want to" of God. In fact, I suspect, it is not as difficult as me make it out.  We are all lepers. We are all in need of healing. We are all isolated from our community in some form or another. Some may enjoy that situation and have there own personal pity party. Others of us can choose to approach God's throne and say, "God, if you want to, you can...." and believe that

HE CAN!

The Struggle

 

Is it sin that frustrates me or grace undeserved

I confess without number - I find forgiveness without measure

Oh the unsearchable riches of Christ - The immeasurable depth of his love

Wretchedness veils my eyes - Unconditional love opens them again

 

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ...    Ephesians 3:8

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!       Romans 11:33 

Recharge

Thinking back some 40 years, I was trying to remember what those initial days were like after coming to Christ. What the emotions were, the enthusiasm, the joy. I can vaguely see it in my minds eye.

When I was reading Luke's account of the specific calling of Peter, James and John there is that word "everything" - pas. A word that means all, all things, everything. In their case the everything amounted to their job, their home, to some degree their family and certainly their future as they knew it.

It is ludicrous to believe they abandoned all of that for a stranger. They had heard the teaching of Christ, perhaps not just there that day, but other places and other times. They were not mere zombies in their response. They were responding to what they understood as the good news of the Kingdom of God. The attending miracle of the fish, simply sealed the deal.

What they had heard and what they had seen was enough for them to become followers of this man Jesus - a man that Peter sensed was more than just an ordinary teacher as he falls at his feet crying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."

Even though I don't recall those initial days in my own life, there are some things that keep triggering my heart and recharging my battery.

• The Word of God still excites me and challenges me
• My heart still fills with emotion when I sing praises to God
• My desire to be more than I am keeps pushing me
• Sin still pricks my heart and causes me remorse
• I desire to share what Christ has done for me

Those first days will never be repeated. Nevertheless, reminding myself of that decision helps me to understand, I decided to something that day; To follow Christ. Then I was not sure what that meant entirely or where it would lead. Today, I am even less sure. But those trigger points keep bringing me back to the reality of it all. They force me to ask myself, "What have I left for the cause of Christ?"

Father thank you for that moment in time when I said "yes" to Christ. May that moment be a way to recharge this moment, that I might be an enthused follower of the Christ.

Expose Yourself

Uncertain how it all began, there soon came a time in my life when my heart was overflowing with sadness and turmoil. On the outside it appeared as though all was well and nothing had changed. Inside, however, my heart was sinking and I was being battered about by the "whys" and "what's wrong with me" interrogation of my own mind. Everything important seemed to be slipping away and I seemed powerless to stop it.

I still have some of those same struggles today. My desire and ability to be a follower of Christ is at times convulsed by actions and thoughts that weigh me down and push me under the surface. No one sees the currents of fear and doubt tugging against my heart.  All the time they threaten to pull me under. But I'm a man and I could never confess to anyone that I have difficulty swimming so I keep the struggles hidden.

My perception is that others do not wrestle with the same issues I do. But, in reality, I suspect they do. They are simply good at keeping it under the surface and out of sight. Just like me, they would never dare expose themselves and their vulnerability - at least willingly.

I also suspect the risk of exposure is not so much revealing one's vulnerability, but knowing that there are few people who could accept and receive that unveiling.  It's like the friend who asks, "How are you doing today?" They don't really want to know, it just seems like an appropriate thing to say.

The writer of Proverbs has this little nugget:

The purpose of a man's heart is like deep waters, but a man of understanding will draw it out. (20:5)

Notice, the writer does not say, at least here, the man of understanding does anything or has any magical answer. He simply helps draw from the deep waters the purpose, thoughts, and struggles of the other person.

The world needs more men of understanding. More sensitive souls that are willing to hear, "My heart hurts and I am struggling to stay afloat some days."

Perhaps that is what discipling and mentoring is all about. Perhaps that is what drew the men of Galilee to the MAN of Galilee. They knew Jesus had no problem dropping the bucket down into the deep waters of men's souls and helping expose their true self - their true purpose.

It's Greek to Me

I think the biblical languages are intriguing. I am especially fond of Hebrew having taken it in graduate school, even though I mastered it little. Its style, the power of select words, the pictures the writers painted with those words were fascinating to me.  This is all I really recall from those days, 

ויהי דבר־יהוה אל־יונה

But I can say it flawlessly.

Recently, I have decided to start re-learning Greek. That implies that I may have learned it once, which I did, but with little mastery so it would be hard to say I actually learned Greek. Like many of my friends, I survived "suicide Greek"...taking the language study in a four week cram course, five days a week, eight hours a day. Now you know why it was dubbed "suicide Greek." Nevertheless, it was always a struggle for me to know the various endings and the meaning of the tenses.

After many miles under my tires, I have begun to understand some things about biblical Greek. It's a great tool in the hands of the wise, a foolish one for the undisciplined.

Often pastors use the Greek to reinforce an already preconceived notion making much clamoring about a particular usage or construction of a certain word. When in fact, those nuances may have never been intended by the writer, especially a NT writer. After all, Classical/Attic Greek - the language used by the Greek philosophers and teachers both prior to and after the NT was written - was a much different language than what is known as Koine Greek or common Greek. The idiosyncrasies and nuances are more a part of the classic, than the common. If you never learn Greek grammar, that's fine. At least remember that one thing.

What amuses me is some people believe that having looked up a word in a lexicon or on the Internet somehow gives them the privilege to use that as part of their presentation - as though it adds credibility.  We have one Sunday School teacher who is prone to this, yet he struggles to pronounce names of cities or people as he reads his own English translation. Isn't there something wrong with that picture?

Words are powerful things. Assigning the right "value" to words reinforces the word's power and consequently the context in which it is used. We should be good stewards of that fact.

I am looking forward to studying the language again. But most of all, I am looking forward to the attempt at absorbing and retaining more from this go around. Perhaps one day, I can pick up my Greek New Testament, flip open the pages and say with confidence - it's Greek to me!

Where Does My Light Shine?

Back in 1968, when I accepted Christ, the first church I attended was a Catholic church. It was not so much that I was a devoted Catholic, it was simply the only church I knew. If my family ever went to church, that was the one. Consequently, that's where I went.

The environment there seemed so stifling to my new found faith that I sought other options immediately. The recurring thought as I looked around the sanctuary was, "They seem to serve a Christ on the cross, but my faith is in a risen Christ."

Had I been raised as a devout Roman Catholic, I suspect my new faith in Christ would have adjusted to that environment with new meaning and new understanding for the liturgy. In fact, I would think, if anything, that my "light" should shine in that environment and not be removed. But that is speculation.

Often when you hear people discuss Peter, Paul, James and the others apostles, you hear them speak as though these men have abandoned the synagogue and their "worship" there. If that is the case, I would be very surprised for that is the one place their light could shine the brightest. That does not mean the local assembly of believers took a back seat, they did not. It simply means the religious system these men grew up in did not loose value or importance once they accepted Christ. On the contrary, it grew in value and importance. It was, in some sense, the "fields white for harvest."

They were seeing for the first time the significance of the "good news." The were understanding the Sabbath, the sacrifices, the festivals in a new manner - The spiritually significant manner which God intended.

Perhaps too often, we take our light, remove it from the darkness and cluster it with other lights. That results in a very bright environment, but it does nothing for the darkness outside.

I often wonder if my light shines in my neighborhood or if it only has brilliance when I am at church? In the workplace, is there a glimmer of light, or have we so removed ourselves unconsciously that the twinkle is gone and we simply blend in? Have we abandoned old friends because they don't subscribe to our beliefs, or are we shining in their midst?

Uhm....where exactly does my light shine?