"We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors." 2 Corinthians 6:8
The opposite of people pleasers! You've got to love Paul for his singlemindedness. My perspective gets a bit out a whack sometimes. For instance, because of I read of disciples & apostles in the Bible and admire them, I think they must have been admired in their day. I forget that they were definitely in the minority and were often slandered as opposed to praised. I really like their standing their ground, though -- their bold seeking of truth and goodness.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Mark 15-16
"So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them."
Mark 15:15a
People pleasers -- how many of us are people pleasers? I hate the thought of it, yet I do it myself. I can't imagine facing the same situation Pilate faced. He certainly had a stressful job, particularly on that day. Based on Mark and the other gospels, he did not flippantly hand Jesus over to be crucified -- he tried to find a way out. But the people would not be pleased without Jesus' blood being shed. Mob mentality is tough if not impossible to deal with.
It is easy to say that "if I was Pilate, I would have done something differently." But to say that is not very realistic.
Mark 15:15a
People pleasers -- how many of us are people pleasers? I hate the thought of it, yet I do it myself. I can't imagine facing the same situation Pilate faced. He certainly had a stressful job, particularly on that day. Based on Mark and the other gospels, he did not flippantly hand Jesus over to be crucified -- he tried to find a way out. But the people would not be pleased without Jesus' blood being shed. Mob mentality is tough if not impossible to deal with.
It is easy to say that "if I was Pilate, I would have done something differently." But to say that is not very realistic.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Exodus 17-20
"Then Moses pleaded with the Lord, "What should I do with these people? They are about to stone me!" The Lord said to Moses, "Take your shepherd's staff, the one you used when you struck the water of the Nile. Then call some of the leaders of Israel and walk on ahead of the people I will meet you by the rock at Mount Sinai. Strike the rock, and water will come pouring out. Then the people will be able to drink."
Exodus 17:4-6
Hmmmmmm......let's see how I would look at my options at that point in time. Now, the people are so upset with me that they are getting ready to stone me. The Lord gives me this plan to hit a rock with a stick and water will come out. If no water comes out, I am a dead man for sure.
In keeping with the appeal of bold Christians and Christians who take risks, I love how Moses was bold for God. (He wasn't happy about the public speaking for sure, but in these other matters.....). No matter how you slice and dice it, it takes some nerve with an entire population upset with you, to count on water coming out of a rock. Good grief.
Exodus 17:4-6
Hmmmmmm......let's see how I would look at my options at that point in time. Now, the people are so upset with me that they are getting ready to stone me. The Lord gives me this plan to hit a rock with a stick and water will come out. If no water comes out, I am a dead man for sure.
In keeping with the appeal of bold Christians and Christians who take risks, I love how Moses was bold for God. (He wasn't happy about the public speaking for sure, but in these other matters.....). No matter how you slice and dice it, it takes some nerve with an entire population upset with you, to count on water coming out of a rock. Good grief.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
2 Corinthians 4-5
To be completely honest, I don't know what to pull out of today's reading that supports my thoughts and experiences today. Or even what thoughts and experiences today support my reading of the above-referenced scripture.
What is coming to mind, what is impacting me, what is resonating inside of me, is the "bold Christian". Lately, I've run into some bold Christians, and I am very attracted to them. Whenever I have an encounter with a bold Christian, I think "that is how it is supposed to be." People who speak up for Christ, but who don't get wrapped up in traditional church culture, traditions, routines, etc. These Christians tend to be go-getters and fun. That's right -- FUN! I LOVE the energy that comes from a bold Christian.
It is so easy to let church or denominational traditions dictate our behavior, as opposed to what is supposed to dictate our behavior, which is the Word of God. Jesus had no hesitation in correcting the Pharisees in this regard. Nor should we hesitate to correct ourselves for the same thing. If we don't, we get the boldness sucked right out of us and are simply left with a dreary, boring, tedious existence. I don't think God intended that at all. I think that God intends us to live bold, interesting lives. My basis for that is my belief that God is pretty interesting himself -- no one boring would create what God has created -- just look around. And he created us, didn't he? In his image. We are supposed to become more and more Christlike as we live an obedient life, aren't we? Well, Christ wasn't a boring, tedious, law-driven man. He traveled, he made wine from water, he met and loved lots and lots of people............he lived on the edge as it were.
As I said, I don't know what to pull out of the above-referenced scripture to tie my thoughts and experiences of the day together. Perhaps the fact that Paul wrote it that is significant. Paul was far from a wimp himself. He was bold for Christ and he seriously lived on the edge.
How am I living on the edge for Him? How can I be bold for Christ instead of living an insipid, boring, tedious, law-driven life as if that represents obedience and humility?
Thanks to my friend Kim for sharing some bold Christians with me tonight. This is Kim:
What is coming to mind, what is impacting me, what is resonating inside of me, is the "bold Christian". Lately, I've run into some bold Christians, and I am very attracted to them. Whenever I have an encounter with a bold Christian, I think "that is how it is supposed to be." People who speak up for Christ, but who don't get wrapped up in traditional church culture, traditions, routines, etc. These Christians tend to be go-getters and fun. That's right -- FUN! I LOVE the energy that comes from a bold Christian.
It is so easy to let church or denominational traditions dictate our behavior, as opposed to what is supposed to dictate our behavior, which is the Word of God. Jesus had no hesitation in correcting the Pharisees in this regard. Nor should we hesitate to correct ourselves for the same thing. If we don't, we get the boldness sucked right out of us and are simply left with a dreary, boring, tedious existence. I don't think God intended that at all. I think that God intends us to live bold, interesting lives. My basis for that is my belief that God is pretty interesting himself -- no one boring would create what God has created -- just look around. And he created us, didn't he? In his image. We are supposed to become more and more Christlike as we live an obedient life, aren't we? Well, Christ wasn't a boring, tedious, law-driven man. He traveled, he made wine from water, he met and loved lots and lots of people............he lived on the edge as it were.
As I said, I don't know what to pull out of the above-referenced scripture to tie my thoughts and experiences of the day together. Perhaps the fact that Paul wrote it that is significant. Paul was far from a wimp himself. He was bold for Christ and he seriously lived on the edge.
How am I living on the edge for Him? How can I be bold for Christ instead of living an insipid, boring, tedious, law-driven life as if that represents obedience and humility?
Thanks to my friend Kim for sharing some bold Christians with me tonight. This is Kim:
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Mark 13-14
"As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, 'Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings! Look at the massive stones in the walls!' Jesus replied, 'These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another.' " Mark 13:1-2 (NLT)
Every time I drive down Airport Road, and look at the Edmonton skyline, or when I see it as I approach downtown from the south side of the river, I think how beautiful the buildings look to me. Really. I'm not really sure why I find the sight so pleasing. I've seen some pretty impressive skylines -- New York, Chicago -- but none are so pleasing to me as the Edmonton skyline.
It is for sure interesting to think that everything, EVERYTHING, of a physical nature that we build will be dust at some point in time. Everything. Every house, every school, every highrise, every road.......every church.......will be dust. There is not one thing we can physically build today or tomorrow or a hundred years from now or whenever, that will be exempt from being flattened, eradicated, demolished, even irrelevant. Just as God sees beneath our outward appearance, directly to our heart, He sees right through the walls of any church to its heart.
All that being said, it makes it very interesting to be involved or a part of a church that is building a new home. It is perhaps wise to ponder how irrelevant we may become if we associate ourselves too strongly with a soon-to-be irrelevant building. The only thing relevant about our new home will be the relationships that develop within it -- that's it.
And so, I pray. Lord, I pray that we have done and continue to do the very best with what you have given us, in all possible categories -- giftings, personalities, funds, love, etc. I pray that we honor the old and the new relationships that will enter that building, and that we associate none of them with the building, but all of them with you. That while we walk and tour the facility, we actually walk in your Spirit. And that we remain walking in your Spirit everywhere else we go as well. Father, I pray that we please you. Amen.
Every time I drive down Airport Road, and look at the Edmonton skyline, or when I see it as I approach downtown from the south side of the river, I think how beautiful the buildings look to me. Really. I'm not really sure why I find the sight so pleasing. I've seen some pretty impressive skylines -- New York, Chicago -- but none are so pleasing to me as the Edmonton skyline.
It is for sure interesting to think that everything, EVERYTHING, of a physical nature that we build will be dust at some point in time. Everything. Every house, every school, every highrise, every road.......every church.......will be dust. There is not one thing we can physically build today or tomorrow or a hundred years from now or whenever, that will be exempt from being flattened, eradicated, demolished, even irrelevant. Just as God sees beneath our outward appearance, directly to our heart, He sees right through the walls of any church to its heart.
All that being said, it makes it very interesting to be involved or a part of a church that is building a new home. It is perhaps wise to ponder how irrelevant we may become if we associate ourselves too strongly with a soon-to-be irrelevant building. The only thing relevant about our new home will be the relationships that develop within it -- that's it.
And so, I pray. Lord, I pray that we have done and continue to do the very best with what you have given us, in all possible categories -- giftings, personalities, funds, love, etc. I pray that we honor the old and the new relationships that will enter that building, and that we associate none of them with the building, but all of them with you. That while we walk and tour the facility, we actually walk in your Spirit. And that we remain walking in your Spirit everywhere else we go as well. Father, I pray that we please you. Amen.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Jeremiah 22-26
"If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, 'I have a prophecy from the Lord,' I will punish that person along with his entire family. You should keep asking each other, 'what is the Lord's answer?' or 'What is the Lord saying?' But stop using this phrase, 'prophecy from the Lord.' For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord Almighty." Jeremiah 23:34-36
Wow. God is not at all wishy-washy in his desire for people to speak, hear, and understand the truth. Just the other day, I listened to a self-proclaimed 'prophet of the Lord' and I am thinking the study of Jeremiah is very, very important today, just as it was important in its time. It is so easy to get caught up in hype, or peer pressure, or manipulation, or any number of other tactics sometimes used by powerful speakers. But when it comes to the word of God being preached/spoken/etc., we have to be oh so careful that we do not allow false prophets to speak into our lives.
On the flip side, the responsibility we have as Christians is not to give ourselves or our ideas authority by claiming we have a 'prophecy from the Lord.'
Wow. God is not at all wishy-washy in his desire for people to speak, hear, and understand the truth. Just the other day, I listened to a self-proclaimed 'prophet of the Lord' and I am thinking the study of Jeremiah is very, very important today, just as it was important in its time. It is so easy to get caught up in hype, or peer pressure, or manipulation, or any number of other tactics sometimes used by powerful speakers. But when it comes to the word of God being preached/spoken/etc., we have to be oh so careful that we do not allow false prophets to speak into our lives.
On the flip side, the responsibility we have as Christians is not to give ourselves or our ideas authority by claiming we have a 'prophecy from the Lord.'
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Job 33 - 34
"But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed."
Job 33:14-15
Oh my, this really does encourage me! The idea that God may speak to me in my dreams and while I'm sleeping is heart-warming at the very least. Sometimes it seems as if the day is far to short to sit and breathe and rest and listen long enough to hear what God is saying to me. At these times, I pray that he will speak to me in my dreams and work on my transformation through the nights as well as the days.
Job 33:14-15
Oh my, this really does encourage me! The idea that God may speak to me in my dreams and while I'm sleeping is heart-warming at the very least. Sometimes it seems as if the day is far to short to sit and breathe and rest and listen long enough to hear what God is saying to me. At these times, I pray that he will speak to me in my dreams and work on my transformation through the nights as well as the days.
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Psalm 50
"I don't need the bulls you sacrifice;
I don't need the blood of goats.
What I want instead is your true thanks to God;
I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Trust me in your times of trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory."
Psalm 50:13-15
It is so easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions. Of believing that anything we sacrifice -- bulls, goats (back then) or money, time (today) -- benefits God. What a great reminder that it is ALL God's. He absolutely does not need us to sacrifice even one little whit of anything. He gains nothing from any sacrifice we make -- nothing. When we sacrifice with a right heart, the sacrifice benefits us.
I don't need the blood of goats.
What I want instead is your true thanks to God;
I want you to fulfill your vows to the Most High.
Trust me in your times of trouble,
and I will rescue you,
and you will give me glory."
Psalm 50:13-15
It is so easy to fall into the trap of going through the motions. Of believing that anything we sacrifice -- bulls, goats (back then) or money, time (today) -- benefits God. What a great reminder that it is ALL God's. He absolutely does not need us to sacrifice even one little whit of anything. He gains nothing from any sacrifice we make -- nothing. When we sacrifice with a right heart, the sacrifice benefits us.
2 Samuel 1-4
There are so many examples in these passages of misplaced priorities. And then also a God King David.
In 2 Samuel 1, there is the Amelekite who mistakenly thought David would reward him for killing Saul. Ironic, given David had opportunities to kill Saul himself and never did. His reverence for God precluded taking God's anointed King's life. You can not always or perhaps ever overcome evil by squashing/killing it -- at least not without God's permission. Saul was so evil, so demented, etc., that it must have seemed logical to kill him given the opportunity, but no so. And so, the Amelekite paid with his life.
In 2 Samuel 2, note Asahel, who chased Abner with single-mindedness and relentlessness. His obsession with his cause, and not with the Lord, led to his demise.
In 2 Samuel 3, Joab killed Abner in revenge for Abner's killing of Asahel.
In 2 Samuel 4, Ishbosheth was killed by two men, who proudly took his head to David in anticipation of gratitude. They could not have possibly been in attendance when the Amelekite issue was resolved, eh?
People are constantly trying to fight someone else's battles aren't they?
In 2 Samuel 1, there is the Amelekite who mistakenly thought David would reward him for killing Saul. Ironic, given David had opportunities to kill Saul himself and never did. His reverence for God precluded taking God's anointed King's life. You can not always or perhaps ever overcome evil by squashing/killing it -- at least not without God's permission. Saul was so evil, so demented, etc., that it must have seemed logical to kill him given the opportunity, but no so. And so, the Amelekite paid with his life.
In 2 Samuel 2, note Asahel, who chased Abner with single-mindedness and relentlessness. His obsession with his cause, and not with the Lord, led to his demise.
In 2 Samuel 3, Joab killed Abner in revenge for Abner's killing of Asahel.
In 2 Samuel 4, Ishbosheth was killed by two men, who proudly took his head to David in anticipation of gratitude. They could not have possibly been in attendance when the Amelekite issue was resolved, eh?
People are constantly trying to fight someone else's battles aren't they?
Friday, April 14, 2006
Choices
"Tell all the people, 'This is what the Lord says: Take your choice of life or death!' "
Jeremiah 21:8
That seems fairly simple until you read the statement within its context in the bible. It became clear that the choice of life He was presenting depended on one's turning oneself over the enemy at that time. No wonder people thought Jeremiah was a bit off. Can you imagine your country being invaded by the very worst enemy -- imagine an enemy that murders, rapes, is noted for their cruelty, terrorizes everyone -- and then the Lord sends a word to your country that "Hey, you want to live? Well turn yourself over to them. If you fight, you will die." True, the society that the Lord spoke to had become rampant with sin, but imagine being Jeremiah or perhaps another "good guy". Wouldn't it be hard NOT to fight your enemy?
Sometimes the Lord wants me to do exactly the opposite of what I think would be right -- and sometimes that is hard to discern.
Jeremiah 21:8
That seems fairly simple until you read the statement within its context in the bible. It became clear that the choice of life He was presenting depended on one's turning oneself over the enemy at that time. No wonder people thought Jeremiah was a bit off. Can you imagine your country being invaded by the very worst enemy -- imagine an enemy that murders, rapes, is noted for their cruelty, terrorizes everyone -- and then the Lord sends a word to your country that "Hey, you want to live? Well turn yourself over to them. If you fight, you will die." True, the society that the Lord spoke to had become rampant with sin, but imagine being Jeremiah or perhaps another "good guy". Wouldn't it be hard NOT to fight your enemy?
Sometimes the Lord wants me to do exactly the opposite of what I think would be right -- and sometimes that is hard to discern.
Friday, April 07, 2006
When When Will I Ever Learn?
So, after catching up a little bit on sleep tonight, I have been looking through some blogs just to see what's out there. The featured blog on blogger today is pretty interesting. There is an apple illustration on the blog, and to see the animation you need to have QuickTime, which is not on my computer. Well, I am very leery about downloading ANYTHING to my little laptop. My life is on this thing, and the thought of corrupting it or losing it, is unbearable to me. But, against my better judgment and with great trepidation, I decided to go ahead, and the download began. It did not take very long and I was encouraged to think everything would be okay.
But sure as anything, once the download was complete, even my internet connection would not work. "Oh no." I could not believe it, though I expected it all along. I'd messed up this entire computer by downloading QuickTime off the web. I tried going to a variety of sites -- nothing. I tried rebooting the computer -- no go. "I knew it! What a dumb idea it was to download that! I should have trusted my instincts!" I was filled with these recriminations.
I had heard one of my roommates come in a few minutes prior and I decided to go commisserate with her. When I told her my internet was not working, Joy said "I noticed." Aha. I had messed up our entire internet connection with my download of QuickTime. We checked the router in her room -- it appeared to be fine. Another of my roommates - Darryl - is packing to take off for home (the Yukon) tomorrow. He just finished his third year journeyman schooling today, and he is eager to hit the road. In his room is another router, so when I told him what had happened, we decided to reset that router. I was sure my actions had messed up that router, too.
Now before we go any further, you probably already know this, it is INCREDIBLY rare that you would mess up a router or an internet connection for a network by downloading fairly well recognized software like QuickTime. Incredibly rare.
Though I was sure it would not work, I went back to my computer. It worked fine.
I am reminded how easy it is to "connect the dots" in all the wrong ways based on a variety of factors. In this case, the factors were timing and preconditioned thinking. Because of the timing of my download and someone packing in his room and disabling a router, I jumped to a wrong conclusion. This would be amusing if this was the only time I did this, but I did this earlier today in the office, and it involved people. The factors were overtiredness and preconditioned thinking and the thing is, unlike machines, people have feelings and get hurt.
Lord, I ask your forgiveness now for my jumping to wrong conclusions about people in your family. You teach that man sees the outside appearance of a person, but you see the heart. Obviously, this is true in my case, but I ask that you make me more like you -- willing and able to see the heart and not jump to wrong conclusions based on appearances, lies and/or bad experiences. I pray you continue to work on me in this area, Lord, as it is people and relationships that matter -- nothing else.
But sure as anything, once the download was complete, even my internet connection would not work. "Oh no." I could not believe it, though I expected it all along. I'd messed up this entire computer by downloading QuickTime off the web. I tried going to a variety of sites -- nothing. I tried rebooting the computer -- no go. "I knew it! What a dumb idea it was to download that! I should have trusted my instincts!" I was filled with these recriminations.
I had heard one of my roommates come in a few minutes prior and I decided to go commisserate with her. When I told her my internet was not working, Joy said "I noticed." Aha. I had messed up our entire internet connection with my download of QuickTime. We checked the router in her room -- it appeared to be fine. Another of my roommates - Darryl - is packing to take off for home (the Yukon) tomorrow. He just finished his third year journeyman schooling today, and he is eager to hit the road. In his room is another router, so when I told him what had happened, we decided to reset that router. I was sure my actions had messed up that router, too.
Now before we go any further, you probably already know this, it is INCREDIBLY rare that you would mess up a router or an internet connection for a network by downloading fairly well recognized software like QuickTime. Incredibly rare.
Though I was sure it would not work, I went back to my computer. It worked fine.
I am reminded how easy it is to "connect the dots" in all the wrong ways based on a variety of factors. In this case, the factors were timing and preconditioned thinking. Because of the timing of my download and someone packing in his room and disabling a router, I jumped to a wrong conclusion. This would be amusing if this was the only time I did this, but I did this earlier today in the office, and it involved people. The factors were overtiredness and preconditioned thinking and the thing is, unlike machines, people have feelings and get hurt.
Lord, I ask your forgiveness now for my jumping to wrong conclusions about people in your family. You teach that man sees the outside appearance of a person, but you see the heart. Obviously, this is true in my case, but I ask that you make me more like you -- willing and able to see the heart and not jump to wrong conclusions based on appearances, lies and/or bad experiences. I pray you continue to work on me in this area, Lord, as it is people and relationships that matter -- nothing else.
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