Prayers For Chardon

It's easy to talk about Jesus' love, God's sovereignty and existence, and hope when things are going well. But they are relatively meaningless until tested.

Today as I was preparing for another day of work and class, twenty minutes down the road a young teenager lost his life, Daniel. That's my brother's name. As I worked through my morning devotions, more than a thousand students ran in fear at the sound of gun shots.

My prayers are with the families of Chardon, especially with those who were injured and with the one whose life was cut regrettably short. I don't believe any less in God's sovereignty today than I did yesterday, but I am looking for him much harder.

"The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Psalm 34:17,18

Jesus Beside Me (Matthew 4:17-24)

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near"
"Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men."

Divine forgiveness became a piercing reality the second Jesus' mouth first opened and he unleashed the beautiful clause we had been awaiting. But such forgiveness is not without cost. A great debt was yet to be paid and the bill was set before us in his first word, repent. He came with a gift but a gift we must unclench our fists and stretch out our arms to receive. Repent. His message teemed with urgency, he knew with each word the kingdom grew closer, just as with each step the cross grew clearer.

Sanity: Existence Pt2

Existence with exclusion, if there be such a thing as God then there can only be one.

This notion is rather simple for us to accept, as our culture has grown in light of predominant monotheistic institutions and philosophies. But it was not always this way and in some parts of the world it remains as thus, that a polytheism is not only possible but true in their eyes. This is never a problem for them because they see each god as having its own dominion over specific areas or elements. So far as this is the case, they are guilty of having a small idea of god. A god, then, to them is little more than a glorified immortal magician, a wish granter, a wind changer. 

Jesus Beside Me (Matthew 4: 4,7,10) Pt2

The final two lessons must be understood in part by the action which precedes them both. Wherein fasting and the exploration of weakness was initiated by the Spirit, so the opposite is found as Jesus is led by the devil. In each instance the contradiction to surrender is shown. The devil offers only good things, safety and power. And would deliver upon them for only the small price of obedience. For us, the cost is even less. We need not even obey, only remain ignorant. If we do nothing, we are as much his servants as those with innocent blood smeared across their hands. Jesus did not obey. Jesus did not do nothing.

Jesus Beside Me (Matthew 4: 4,7,10)

"It is written: Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." 
"It is also written: Do not put the LORD your God to the test."
"Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the LORD your God, and serve him only."

We have heard the mighty victory of our Lord's temptation before, but its beginning should not be taken lightly. For it is when he is most surrendered that the temptation is at its greatest (we also see this at Gethsemane).

New Series On Jesus' Words

I'm learning to chase my ideas as they come, instead of arguing to myself why they wouldn't work. I heard a woman the other day giving a speech in San Francisco and she said something I will never forget, that if we knew someone who talked to us the way we talk to ourselves, we would never let them be our friend. I guess it's a mixture of what I want and of what I want to want, if that makes sense.
For now, words are still the best way I know how to express these ideas (however poorly that may be at times). If I could write music I imagine my thoughts would sound like this. Or maybe that's just what I hope they would sound like.

Sanity: Existence

Jesus answers big questions with small answers.

When the crowd of thousands came before him hungry and tired and the disciples asked for his guidance, his answer was a small boy’s lunch. When the world was set to be destroyed, Noah survived by building a boat. When people broke their backs trying to follow the law, Christ said there really is only two that matter.

It is so easy for us to get lost and troubled before the bigness of life’s problems. It is so natural to desire the bigger picture, even if that bigger picture is destined to scare you into submission. We dream big dreams, build big cities and set enormous goals. And that is all good.

But isn’t it ironic that some of the smallest creatures in existence strive for bigness; and the biggest thing that is, which is God, loves to work in smallness. Of course the opposites are true, but that shouldn’t surprise us because that is exactly what should be happening. Small things should work in small ways and big things in big ways. Yet God flips that, like he does with so many other things, and delicately lays before us a work of art that our eyes attempt to fully survey.

Sanity

Sanity - Keeping your mind on God and your feet on Earth

In my study of Scripture I constantly come back to the battle between now vs then and the here vs there. The now and here represents the earth, people, social dilemmas, problems within time and possible solutions brought about by the means of men. The then and there signifies the spiritual, the life to come, God’s realm and from that God’s timing and purpose within visible problems and solutions. We are supposed to keep our mind on God, on “the things above” and live in such a way that reflects His sovereignty. But at the same time we are fully immersed in the flesh and operate within the constraints of time. Our feet are firmly planted on the ground and our hands can only reach so far.

Flirting With Apostasy

Acting Christian and being Christ's are worlds apart in purpose, in action, in effect.

I occasionally think about what my life would look like if I were not a Christian. What would be my aspirations be, what would my friends look like, what would I be dedicated to? On a more personal level, what would my relationships look like, what would my morality look like? And most frightening of all, would I be sane? These are all very real, very deep questions and along with them I am drawn to consider how I would answer them in light of the faith which I do possess. Since I am a Christian, are my aspirations, friends and relationships reflections of that fact? Is the content and direction of my life coherent with a Biblical confession of faith?

Afterward I question the line between those two answers. Does having faith necessarily transform any such category, or am I merely adhering to a preconception of what Christians do in such a scenario? In truth I ask if I would be a better person if I were not a Christian. To most believers this doesn’t make sense at all – the answers clearly stands as a no. Why is that? Because of their idea of non-believers or specific interactions with them? As far as my limited experience with ethics goes, the difference is not nearly as distinct as the average Bible-belt resident would argue. 

This idea drives at questions I do not intend to answer, such as what is moral and can there be morality apart from God. However, the question I do want to raise is what actions in my life are clearly present because of my faith and which are absent; and more importantly should they be? Should I defend any decision on the basis of “I’m a Christian and that’s what Christian’s do (or don’t do)?”  

At the root lies two truths: I am human and I belong to Christ. They both illuminate my identity, but not necessarily in different ways and not immediately in opposing ways, as I believe some take for granted (myself included). Being Christian does not unmake our humanity, if anything it encourages it. Perhaps we can blame Paul and his use of the term “flesh” to embody the evil in humanity; or our misunderstanding of his meaning. But Christ didn’t think so. His incarnation was proof of that fact and his actions on earth rarely “followed the rules” and yet he fulfilled the law.

My salvation is in the hands of God and my leaving is as impossible as his abandoning. But maybe there are some things I do need to abandon or take up, things which might make my Christianity look less Christian but glorify God more honestly.

Just some thoughts partly inspired by Bonhoeffer. I'm sure they'll make better sense one day.