Staying power...

I just finished reading an article about how 10 Taliban militants squirted acid in 15 girls and teachers faces on their way to school (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081125/ap_on_re_as/as_afghanistan). It was another reminder that there really is evil in the world. The Taliban doesn't like females being educated, so they squirted young girls with acid. It got me thinking about how we in the US have these systems set up to protect each others freedoms and so on and so on. And how we have these ideas of tolerance and such in our nation. As I was thinking about these things it just hit me, we have no staying power to live the lives that we talk about living in the USA.

We talk about living out lives of peace, love, tolerance, acceptance, etc. Yet at the same time we see all sorts of hateful things spewed around by the very people who say that they want to spread peace and love. Why is that? Well the Bible says that apart from Christ we are slaves to sin (John 8:31-36; Romans 6). We have no power on our own to conquer our anger, fears, and hates. So even though we may talk a good game, the power to live a life of love and acceptance simply is not within ourselves. We can only find it in Christ. This is the staying power that our country is missing. Wait though, there's more...

Now, I think its very nice that our country has decided that we should be tolerant of each other, but frankly, to those of us who know Christ, this is like telling a runner that he needs to learn to walk. Jesus Christ calls us far and above tolerating others. He calls us to love our neighbors and even to love our enemies and to pray for them (Matthew 5:44). And he doesn't even stop there, to make sure we fully understand what he is trying to communicate, he has told us to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves (Matthew 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31,33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:9). Wow. Simply tolerating someone is no where near what Christ calls his followers to do. Yet I think many of Jesus' followers are in the same boat as most Americans--we talk a good game, but we don't know how to actually do it.

The reality is that many Christians are missing the same thing that the rest of the USA is missing--abiding in Christ. John 15 makes it very clear that the Christian life must be lived through Christ. Apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), but we can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). The Bible paints a very strong contrast here--we are useless without Christ, but in him we can do anything--even love our enemy.

So here is where all these thoughts come to a head. We find that both Christians and Americans talk a good game. The USA wants tolerance, and the Christian wants love. We also find that Christians cannot live out their calling unless it is done in the power of Christ. No surprise then that the US cannot carry out its ideals apart from Christ either. What we as Christians need to do is share with our fellow man how to live out the ideals that the US is trying to teach. What a great opportunity for the gospel--an opportunity to witness about how we couldn't love without Christ and that Christ can probably help them to be more tolerant. The door is wide open. Instead of fighting against our nation's calls for tolerance, lets show them how to really live it out--and if they look to Christ to be more tolerant, odds are He will take them much further.

heavy burdens

i was reminded once again last night of the call that Jesus has given us...

matthew 11

28(AP) Come to(AQ) me, all who labor and are(AR) heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and(AS) learn from me, for I am(AT) gentle and lowly in heart, and(AU) you will find rest for your souls. 30For(AV) my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Jesus call us to take His yoke upon ourselves...one that is easy and light...one where we will find rest. is your burden easy and light, or have you stopped moving by the weight of what you carry. my physical posture becomes one a lying down on a couch and watching tv when i am carrying heaven burdens--those are not God's burdens. if burdens are weighing you down--reflect on whether these burdens are from God or not. chances are they are not from Him.

while i know that paul had a thorn in the flesh and Christ clearly seemed burdened prior to going to the cross, this does not mean that we must carry heavy burdens. let us remember that Christ died on the cross for the joy that was set before him (hebrews 12:2). future joy can remove a feeling of burdening. also, we must recognize that there was a choice involved when following God's burden. Christ was not roped into going to the cross. it was a clear choice of His will--as He said "not my will, but yours be done" (luke 22:42). Christ chose to surrender. One other observation I'd like to make is that Godly burdens don't stop us from acting--they do the opposite--they call us to action. is your burden slowing you down? it's probably not from God. the Holy Spirit calls us to action. not simply dwelling or wallowing in guilt.

as for paul, his burden, the "messenger of satan" was allowed by the Lord for a clear purpose that he was able to recognize. once again, this burden did not stop paul from ministry, rather it brought him into closer intimacy w/ Christ. he was also able to more clearly recognize that God is the one at work--even in our weakness and that God's grace is sufficient.

also, as I've read books like Jesusfreaks, it has been clear that many people have suffered in many ways for the sake of christ. after all, christ himself has told us that we must pick up our cross and follow him (matthew 10:38, 16:24; mark 8:34; luke 9:23, 14:27). the burden of the cross though, becomes light as we follow Christ. after all, the joy of the Lord is your strength (nehemiah 8:10) and you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (philippians 4:13).

so do you a have a burden today? are you carrying a load? test and see if it is from the Lord. if it is not from Him, lay it down before the Lord. reject it in the name of Jesus. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. trust in Him.

Court system...

So, my question is, do you think our courts would be in better shape if we had the following rule/law?

Deuteronomy 18

16 “If a malicious witness comes forward and accuses someone of a crime, 17 then both the accuser and accused must appear before the Lord by coming to the priests and judges in office at that time. 18 The judges must investigate the case thoroughly. If the accuser has brought false charges against his fellow Israelite, 19 you must impose on the accuser the sentence he intended for the other person. In this way, you will purge such evil from among you. 20 Then the rest of the people will hear about it and be afraid to do such an evil thing.

My thought is that our current day in age, with all of the endless lawsuits, etc. If someone knew that if they didn't win their case, they would have to pay the amount they sought, it would definitely filter out a lot of nonsense and the only people who would really pursue any type of retribution would be the ones who truly have been wronged.

The other side of the coin though, is that this would also increase the likelihood of people not prosecuting a crime because they didn't have enough evidence to know for certain they would win--sometimes allowing criminals to escape.

So what is better? Allowing some of the guilty to get off free, or having some of the innocent, end up being found guilty? I think God is saying he rather not have false accusations.

One other thing to note here is that the verse before says that in order to be convicted of a crime, there must be at least two to three witnesses. This practice could also let some guilty people off if only one person had seen the crime.

So with all that said, and knowing that God will ultimately judge all of us one day, I much rather be in a world that does not find Innocent people to be guilty. Knowing full well that some guilty people may not be convicted. They will have their day of reckoning whether or not we find them guilty.

Thoughts?

daily bible reading

so i guess reading the bible every day isn't much of a new idea. check this out...

Deuteronomy 17

18 “When he (Israel's king) sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. 19 He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. 20 This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel."

so i guess God was the first one to think reading the bible was a good idea--like 3500 years ago. who would've thought?

what else needs to be said?

Hebrews 11

By Faith

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of^(A) things not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by^(B) the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of^(C) things that are visible.

4By faith^(D) Abel offered to God^(E) a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And^(F) through his faith, though he died, he^(G) still speaks. 5By faith^(H) Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God^(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith^(J) Noah, being warned by God concerning^(K) events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of^(L) the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith^(M) Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place^(N) that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he went to live in^(O) the land of promise, as in a foreign land,^(P) living in tents^(Q) with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to^(R) the city that has^(S) foundations,^(T) whose designer and builder is God. 11By faith^(U) Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered^(V) him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and^(W) him as good as dead, were born descendants^(X) as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith,^(Y) not having received the things promised, but^(Z) having seen them and greeted them from afar, and^(AA) having acknowledged that they were^(AB) strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out,^(AC) they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed^(AD) to be called their God, for^(AE) he has prepared for them a city.

17By faith^(AF) Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18of whom it was said,^(AG) "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19^(AH) He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20By faith^(AI) Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21By faith^(AJ) Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph,^(AK) bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22By faith^(AL) Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23By faith^(AM) Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of^(AN) the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up,^(AO) refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25^(AP) choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy^(AQ) the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26^(AR) He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to^(AS) the reward. 27By faith he^(AT) left Egypt,^(AU) not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured^(AV) as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith^(AW) he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29By faith^(AX) the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30By faith^(AY) the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith^(AZ) Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she^(BA) had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of^(BB) Gideon,^(BC) Barak,^(BD) Samson,^(BE) Jephthah, of^(BF) David and^(BG) Samuel and the prophets— 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises,^(BH) stopped the mouths of lions, 34^(BI) quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness,^(BJ) became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35^(BK) Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even^(BL) chains and imprisonment. 37^(BM) They were stoned, they were sawn in two,^[a](BN) they were killed with the sword.^(BO) They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—^(BP) wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39And all these,^(BQ) though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better for us,^(BR) that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Hebrews 12

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and^(A) sin which clings so closely, and^(B) let us run^(C) with endurance the race that is^(D) set before us, 2looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,^(E) who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising^(F) the shame, and^(G) is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

3^(H) Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or^(I) fainthearted. 4In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

^(J) "My son,^(K) do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6For^(L) the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives."

7It is for discipline that you have to endure.^(M) God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8If you are left without discipline,^(N) in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to^(O) the Father of spirits^(P) and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good,^(Q) that we may share his holiness. 11^(R) For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields^(S) the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12Therefore^(T) lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13and^(U) make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint^(V) but rather be healed. 14^(W) Strive for peace with everyone, and for the^(X) holiness^(Y) without which no one will see the Lord.

starting off - out of the gate

while this will not be some end all extravagant post, i have decided that its time for me to create an outlet. thoughts are constantly bombarding my head and i mull over them and that leads to new thoughts to mull over and so on. my amazing wife has been the recipient of most of my "ruminations" (aha! its a catchy title that even makes sense)...whether or not she has been desiring to hear them all. nevertheless she has patiently listened to and encouraged me for more than four years as my wife + all the time we dated. I kept a journal back when we started dating...it was very good to do. i hope to do something similar now--this however is not going to be my journal. i have realized that i get a lot of one liner ideas, phrases, or thoughts that describe something i am thinking about or being confronted with at any given time in my life. i've tried a few ways to record these thoughts and, while the conclusion from this adventure may be the same, i have not found a steady system that has worked. my ideas are all over random places--some in a little flip book my beautiful wife made for me to carry with my bible--which i love using when my 'large' bible (vs. my 'small' bible) is nearby. i liked it so much that i bought another little flip book and would carry that one around in my pocket. and now the cover has all but torn off of it. so i'm turning to the electronic world to capture my thoughts. here in this 'blog.' so yeah this will be a place for me to mull over all of my random thoughts and at the very least capture them for my own later use. if i am the only one to ever read these, i will still have accomplished my hopes and purposes. so, with that said this will be a new outlet. i don't expect to get into the details of my life. after all, we may have never met. but i will share w/ you the insights and thoughts that God is putting on my heart. hopefully they will be universal and will be of some value to you; even if not, you can at least check what i say against the bible and help me to stay on the path towards truth. after all isn't that what community is about--pointing each other towards the majesty, truth, grace, love, justice, holiness, forgiveness, mercy, and faithfulness of our amazing God? and if i'm headed the wrong way, or even slightly veering to left or right, please love me enough to help me stay on the straight and narrow. wide is the road that leads to destruction and there are many who find it. narrow is the path that leads to life and there are few who find it. help me find/stay on it. looking forward to a great adventure! even though it might just be me and you on this particular blog.

-keith