It is always fun when you read and reread passages of scripture and something new catches your eye. This happened to me recently when I was on a retreat. I was rereading John 13, a passage about Jesus washing the disciples feet. What caught my attention this time was the last verse of this section of scripture, John 13:7. Here we have a statement from Jesus on how to be blessed. The answer seems quite simple yet complex. We are to do what we know. In The Message it says "If you understand what I am telling you, act like it - and live a blessed life."
So what did Jesus do? He gave Himself for the sake of others. In this passage He humbled Himself and washed the feet of His disciples. A few chapters later we read about Jesus giving His life as payment for our sins. But what about Peter's reaction?
More to come...
25 March 2008
21 March 2008
What is a "True" Christian?
This past week I was part of a great discussion about living out our faith. We were discussion a couple of examples out of Chuck Colson's book The Faith (see my posting on Doing Common Things in Uncommon Ways). A friend in our group took the side that the Amish in this story were example of "True" Christians. At the time, this seemed like a reasonable statement, but I have been pondering it for the last couple of days, and I have come to the conclusion that I think the word "true" is the wrong word to describe the actions that the people in the two stories took. Perhaps a better word to describe them would be mature. It is not that they are truer Christians, they are simply a little or a lot farther down the transformation process.
As I look through scripture, being a true Christ-follower is not about doing, rather it is about believing and accepting the free gift that Jesus supplied by dieing on the cross as payments for our sins. That is what Easter is all about. Once we have made this decision a transformation begins to take place. The replacement of our corrupted beliefs and values with Biblical grounded ones. As our old beliefs and values are replaced there will be a change in our world view, motives, and behaviors.
The Christians in Colson's book were acting on their Biblically grounded beliefs and values, they were "taking up their cross" and following Jesus. These Christians should be looked at as examples of what living out our Christian walk should look like. What it means to take up our cross.
What is the cross you have been called to carry? How can you give your life to be apart of carrying out God's will here on earth? What corrupted beliefs and values do you need to replace with Biblically grounded ones? How are you daily renewing your mind though the reading of scripture? How could someone identify you as a Christ-follower by your actions?
As I look through scripture, being a true Christ-follower is not about doing, rather it is about believing and accepting the free gift that Jesus supplied by dieing on the cross as payments for our sins. That is what Easter is all about. Once we have made this decision a transformation begins to take place. The replacement of our corrupted beliefs and values with Biblical grounded ones. As our old beliefs and values are replaced there will be a change in our world view, motives, and behaviors.
The Christians in Colson's book were acting on their Biblically grounded beliefs and values, they were "taking up their cross" and following Jesus. These Christians should be looked at as examples of what living out our Christian walk should look like. What it means to take up our cross.
What is the cross you have been called to carry? How can you give your life to be apart of carrying out God's will here on earth? What corrupted beliefs and values do you need to replace with Biblically grounded ones? How are you daily renewing your mind though the reading of scripture? How could someone identify you as a Christ-follower by your actions?
16 March 2008
A New Perspective
I was away for a 48 hour retreat recently and God showed me a new perspective, while maybe not new but a fresh perspective on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I had been reading John 13 and the first verse talks about how Jesus knew that His time was up. I laid down thinking about this and, I know this may sound morbid, but starting thinking about how I would feel if my own son were to die. The emotions I felt must have been like those God was feeling at this time in the life of His Son. It wasn't until I was in church Saturday that I was struck that this is the beginning of Holy week and that though Jesus died, God knew also that He would rise again. I then thought how I would rejoice knowing that even if my son were to die I would also see him again some day. As I took communion that day, it had a whole different feeling for me.
10 March 2008
Doing Common Things in Uncommon Ways
Ah, vacation, a time to wander and ponder. My family and I are in Chicago for a few days and are enjoying the areas museums and attractions. Yesterday, we spent 5-6 wandering around the Field Museum of Chicago. What a place. What really caught my attention was an exhibit about George Washington Carver. A former slave who over came a variety of barriers to make a great impact in the world in the areas of science and humanity in general. In the museum store was a t-shirt which either a quote or summary of Carver's beliefs. The shirt read "When you do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." A simple thought, but quite profound.
As Christ followers, this is the attitude we need to have. We should be doing the common things in life, loving, serving, respecting, etc in such uncommon ways that the world pays attention. This attention should not be about you and me, rather we should then direct it to the glorify God. This line of thought brings me back to a discussion I was a part of a few weeks back with a young man who is part of a group of offenders I (and 5 others) are working with at a state prison. The assignment was given to study a passage about the branch and vine and barring fruit. He made the statement the even non-Christians do good things. The point that was made to help understand this was where is the attention that is gain directed, at ones self or back to the Creator? Then there is the idea of "uncommon" way.
In his book The Faith, Chuck Colson was talking about this very things. He gave two example of doing common things in uncommon ways (and the world did notice). He first described and incident that happened in an Amish community in which a number of school age girls were killed by a troubled man. This community not only forgave but reached out the killers family to support them as well. A common thing done in an uncommon way. The second example were a group of Christians who cared for plague victims in ancient times. Giving of themselves to serve others. Colson concludes the chapter with these stories in this way:
The early Christians who treated plague victims certainly weren't embracing the pagan culture. Nor were they trying to make Christianity more relevant and win over the hearts of an empire; they were simply carrying out the truth of their faith -- that every person is made in the image of God and therefore possess dignity. Again, doing common things in uncommon ways.
What common things do you do, that you can do in uncommon ways to bring glory to God?
As Christ followers, this is the attitude we need to have. We should be doing the common things in life, loving, serving, respecting, etc in such uncommon ways that the world pays attention. This attention should not be about you and me, rather we should then direct it to the glorify God. This line of thought brings me back to a discussion I was a part of a few weeks back with a young man who is part of a group of offenders I (and 5 others) are working with at a state prison. The assignment was given to study a passage about the branch and vine and barring fruit. He made the statement the even non-Christians do good things. The point that was made to help understand this was where is the attention that is gain directed, at ones self or back to the Creator? Then there is the idea of "uncommon" way.
In his book The Faith, Chuck Colson was talking about this very things. He gave two example of doing common things in uncommon ways (and the world did notice). He first described and incident that happened in an Amish community in which a number of school age girls were killed by a troubled man. This community not only forgave but reached out the killers family to support them as well. A common thing done in an uncommon way. The second example were a group of Christians who cared for plague victims in ancient times. Giving of themselves to serve others. Colson concludes the chapter with these stories in this way:
What common things do you do, that you can do in uncommon ways to bring glory to God?
09 March 2008
Giving Voice to the Voiceless
I am off to the the Wind City, Chicago. Took the train down, what a relaxing way to travel, no lines at the station, no fighting with traffic, having time to read, sleep, and ponder life as we went along. One of the things I did was watch again the movie Amazing Grace. It is the story of William Wilberforce, an Englishman in the House of Lords who work to abolish the English slave trade.
Two things that struck me as I watched. First, was the fact that Wilberforce did not "find God" but rather that God found him. Relating to a sermon by Erwin McManus (listened to that on the train ride down also), God was putting His finger prints on Wilberforce. God was stirring a passion in his soul so strong he could not escape it. William then spent the next 10-11 years giving voice to the voiceless, speaking for the slaves who had no voice. He was in fact putting his finger prints all over them. Second, Wilberforce stood firm against astronomical odds. He leaned into fears, stood in the center of God's will and fought for what he knew to be right.
Has God been stirring a passion in you? Have you taken the time to listen to God to see how he is speaking to you? Have you asked God to stir something within you? Are you willing to allow God to put His fingerprints all over you and then in turn be God's hands and feet by putting your fingerprints all over someone else? Are you willing to engage the world, to make one small part better so that the whole can become a little better? It could be dangerous, it will be exciting. You might even call it barbaric!
I know that God is stirring something in my, but I can't put my finger on it quite yet. I know the components, love, courage, community, and engagement. I know it has to do will to with being a barbarian. Stay tuned for more related to this...
Two things that struck me as I watched. First, was the fact that Wilberforce did not "find God" but rather that God found him. Relating to a sermon by Erwin McManus (listened to that on the train ride down also), God was putting His finger prints on Wilberforce. God was stirring a passion in his soul so strong he could not escape it. William then spent the next 10-11 years giving voice to the voiceless, speaking for the slaves who had no voice. He was in fact putting his finger prints all over them. Second, Wilberforce stood firm against astronomical odds. He leaned into fears, stood in the center of God's will and fought for what he knew to be right.
Has God been stirring a passion in you? Have you taken the time to listen to God to see how he is speaking to you? Have you asked God to stir something within you? Are you willing to allow God to put His fingerprints all over you and then in turn be God's hands and feet by putting your fingerprints all over someone else? Are you willing to engage the world, to make one small part better so that the whole can become a little better? It could be dangerous, it will be exciting. You might even call it barbaric!
I know that God is stirring something in my, but I can't put my finger on it quite yet. I know the components, love, courage, community, and engagement. I know it has to do will to with being a barbarian. Stay tuned for more related to this...
04 March 2008
New Direction
I am looking forward to next week. My family and I are going to be spending a few days in Chicago and then I get to go on a three day personal retreat at a place called Pacem In Terris which is a place where one can get away and spend time with God.
I look forward to how I will encounter God. Of late I have been excited and very much wrapped up in a lot of what at first seemed to be random thoughts, ideas, verses, and quotes that have filled by white board at work. Things are getting a little clearer and I hope spending 3 days alone with God will bring more clarity to the matter. The best way I can describe it now is how can we best respond to God's will, being His hands and feet on earth to accomplish it.
I look forward to how I will encounter God. Of late I have been excited and very much wrapped up in a lot of what at first seemed to be random thoughts, ideas, verses, and quotes that have filled by white board at work. Things are getting a little clearer and I hope spending 3 days alone with God will bring more clarity to the matter. The best way I can describe it now is how can we best respond to God's will, being His hands and feet on earth to accomplish it.
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