I saw my words in a Face Book post this week. Two brothers were spending the night with another elementary aged boy; as the three finished up their bed time prayers altogether there was a final, all inclusive, "Amen." One of the boys then responded, "And that is all of us." That last phrase is something I have unconsciously gotten into the habit of saying when we all as a church say "Amen" to some one's commitment to join our church. He picked it up and used it at an appropriate place.
I wonder what else those little ears throughout the congregation are picking up and looking for an opportunity to use? What else do they latch on to and think, "That is the way church is supposed to be?" What kind of things do they see and it enters their mind and soul, "This is what we do at church?"
My prayer is that they see a church loving each other and come to believe, "This is how it is supposed to be." I pray they hear positive words of encouragement and commitment given to one another in church and begin to believe, "This is what it should be." It is my desire that they hear words of worship and sense hearts being given to God and think, "This is what we do in church." And I pray that they see such a life in those of us going before them that they aspire, "That is what I want to do." I hope they pick up the Christian life and following Christ from us so well that when they come across a place in life that doesn't measure up to what they have known and seen here, they would be able to see what should be and what could be and follow God to find it. May they all come to know a gospel that tells them how God loves the world and they will be able to say, "And that is all of us."
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Marathons for Religion
Marathon Monk. That is what they called Genshin Fujinami. He completed a seven year, 24,800 mile journey for spiritual enlightenment. Fujinami is a Buddhist priest who began his pilgrimage this way - the first three years, he had to rise at midnight for 100 consecutive days to pray and run 18 miles per day, stopping 250 times to pray along the way. Then the next two years he had to up the same routine for 200 consecutive days. For the fifth year, following this prescibed pilgrimage to enlightenment, he had to sit and chant mantras for nine days with out food, water or sleep in a trial called, "entering the temple." Year six - he had to walk 37.5 miles every day for 100 days. The seventh and final year, he had to run 52.5 miles for 100 days, 18 miles for another 100 days and then complete a 234 mile trek back to home.
The Associated Press article did not say if Fujinami found enlightenment. That would seem to be pretty important after all that but no word on the outcome, just a lot of words about the effort. The article did say this about the prescribed pilgrimage, "Once a monk starts the journey he must finish or kill himself." Talk about religion by works!
I am so glad that there is no such pilgrimage to get to God in Christianity. I would never get to God because I am not able to make that kind of effort. It seems that in religion the effort can become more important than what it is supposed to bring about. How odd to go through all that and nothing is said about what is really accomplished. Did he find what he was looking for or were his efforts in vain?
We look again this week at how no effort of ours can reach God, but God made and even greater sacrifice than the Marathon Monk to reach us. I hope you will join me Sunday. You can just drive to church.
For the journey...
The Associated Press article did not say if Fujinami found enlightenment. That would seem to be pretty important after all that but no word on the outcome, just a lot of words about the effort. The article did say this about the prescribed pilgrimage, "Once a monk starts the journey he must finish or kill himself." Talk about religion by works!
I am so glad that there is no such pilgrimage to get to God in Christianity. I would never get to God because I am not able to make that kind of effort. It seems that in religion the effort can become more important than what it is supposed to bring about. How odd to go through all that and nothing is said about what is really accomplished. Did he find what he was looking for or were his efforts in vain?
We look again this week at how no effort of ours can reach God, but God made and even greater sacrifice than the Marathon Monk to reach us. I hope you will join me Sunday. You can just drive to church.
For the journey...
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Grace and Deception
Abraham got away with lying. At least it seems like he did. When he thought his life was in danger because Sarah was so beautiful. In the time and day he lived more powerful men could kill him to take her as a wife, he lied twice. He said, "She is my sister." That was a half truth. Disgusting in our day but not taboo then. He seems to get away with it and come out better off.
Isaac lied and seem to get away with it - same situation of being married to a beautiful relative, same situation of danger, same half truth. He seemed to walk away blessed too.
But after that, we begin to see the consequences of an unbroken generational sin. Isaac's son, Jacob, lies to him. He steals Esau's blessing, runs away from Esau's rage and the family breaks up because of the deception and betrayal. Esau and Jacob reconcile years later, but so much is lost never to be recovered.
Then Jacob's sons deceive him. They tell him they found Joseph's torn, bloodied coat of many colors. A wild animal must have eaten him, when in fact they had sold him into slavery. Again, by the grace of God the family is later reunited and reconciled but so much is lost of life.
What are the lessons here for us? You could say it was grace that God gave Abraham and Isaac in a time of danger when they lied and seem to not have to pay for it. Perhaps that would be so, but look at the power of that sin that took its toll on later generations. We can look and see how playing loose with the truth will always come back on you. You cannot escape a lie.
I know it was God's grace that reconciled Jacob and Esau. I know it was grace that led Joseph to forgive, save and reconcile with his brothers. We must be careful not to presume upon grace when we have messed up and then don't see immediate negative consequences. We need to recognize grace when we see any reconciliation in broken relationships and broken families. We need to see the power of an unbroken generational sin and the power of God to reconcile and redeem. It still happens in our day and in our lives.
For the journey...
Isaac lied and seem to get away with it - same situation of being married to a beautiful relative, same situation of danger, same half truth. He seemed to walk away blessed too.
But after that, we begin to see the consequences of an unbroken generational sin. Isaac's son, Jacob, lies to him. He steals Esau's blessing, runs away from Esau's rage and the family breaks up because of the deception and betrayal. Esau and Jacob reconcile years later, but so much is lost never to be recovered.
Then Jacob's sons deceive him. They tell him they found Joseph's torn, bloodied coat of many colors. A wild animal must have eaten him, when in fact they had sold him into slavery. Again, by the grace of God the family is later reunited and reconciled but so much is lost of life.
What are the lessons here for us? You could say it was grace that God gave Abraham and Isaac in a time of danger when they lied and seem to not have to pay for it. Perhaps that would be so, but look at the power of that sin that took its toll on later generations. We can look and see how playing loose with the truth will always come back on you. You cannot escape a lie.
I know it was God's grace that reconciled Jacob and Esau. I know it was grace that led Joseph to forgive, save and reconcile with his brothers. We must be careful not to presume upon grace when we have messed up and then don't see immediate negative consequences. We need to recognize grace when we see any reconciliation in broken relationships and broken families. We need to see the power of an unbroken generational sin and the power of God to reconcile and redeem. It still happens in our day and in our lives.
For the journey...
Friday, January 14, 2011
Why My Dachshund Wore Cologne
A while back I told you about my beagle, Bailey. Now I need to tell you about my dachshund, Buddy. (Don't worry I only have two dogs, not many more stories are coming). My wife and daughter took the dogs on a walk along the path near the retention pond by Airline. Buddy got off the leash for a bit and after he got close to them again they smelled a strange odor. Judith thought it must be the hogs in the barn near them, then as they got further from there, they realized it was Buddy. He had apparently found something really stinky, like hogs, in his freedom from the leash.
I wonder now if he found some hog manure. For all of you who did not grow up on a farm like me, if you ever are around hogs, you realize they have a very unique and long lasting odor to what they leave behind. I raised hogs for a while. Once, after cleaning a pen and repeatedly washing my hands to get rid of the smell, I tried washing my hands in Listerine. That did not work either.
After several baths, Buddy still smelled like a little pig. Did I say he is part long haired dachshund? It was my turn to give him a bath with another form of soap. It helped but he still smelled like something Jimmy Dean would raise. So I tried a spray or two of some old cologne I had. It helped some. He went from smelling bad to just smelling strange. Fortunately, for us and Buddy, even the worst smells fade with time. He smells like a dachshund today.
As I was giving Buddy another futile bath, a thought came to me. Sometimes we treat our sin like a really bad odor. When we have really messed up so that life is unpleasant, we can try to wash and wash ourselves and do whatever we can think of to undo what we have done. And if it is still unpleasant we put on some thing to make things "smell" different. We often believe it will just get better in time like a bad odor. But there is a difference between stink and sin. Stink will go away eventually. Sin, unless God does something with it, stays. That is why we so desperately need to get grace - to understand how and why God forgives us and cleanses us and changes us. We work on that more this Sunday as we journey through the truth of Galatians.
For they journey...
I wonder now if he found some hog manure. For all of you who did not grow up on a farm like me, if you ever are around hogs, you realize they have a very unique and long lasting odor to what they leave behind. I raised hogs for a while. Once, after cleaning a pen and repeatedly washing my hands to get rid of the smell, I tried washing my hands in Listerine. That did not work either.
After several baths, Buddy still smelled like a little pig. Did I say he is part long haired dachshund? It was my turn to give him a bath with another form of soap. It helped but he still smelled like something Jimmy Dean would raise. So I tried a spray or two of some old cologne I had. It helped some. He went from smelling bad to just smelling strange. Fortunately, for us and Buddy, even the worst smells fade with time. He smells like a dachshund today.
As I was giving Buddy another futile bath, a thought came to me. Sometimes we treat our sin like a really bad odor. When we have really messed up so that life is unpleasant, we can try to wash and wash ourselves and do whatever we can think of to undo what we have done. And if it is still unpleasant we put on some thing to make things "smell" different. We often believe it will just get better in time like a bad odor. But there is a difference between stink and sin. Stink will go away eventually. Sin, unless God does something with it, stays. That is why we so desperately need to get grace - to understand how and why God forgives us and cleanses us and changes us. We work on that more this Sunday as we journey through the truth of Galatians.
For they journey...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Job of Reading the Book of Job
Let me address this week's blog to everyone who has tried to read through the book of Job. It is not an easy undertaking. For most of the book it is a tragic story of cruel suffering and unanswerable questions. Three friends come to comfort Job but only confound him more. They argue and debate but never seem to get anywhere. It is a lot like real life. It is real life.
This time as I am reading through Job in our challenge at Northside to read through the Bible chronologically, I have found some things that help. Job and his friend's perspective on life and suffering is, 'If you suffer you must have done something wrong because suffering is punishment on wickedness.' Today, some might call it 'bad karma.' Job struggles with this because he has done nothing wrong; his friends argue that he must have done something really bad to be suffering so much.
In the end we find out the truth - good people suffer too. The world is not fair, it is a fallen place. Too bad Job and his friends did not know what happens in the first few chapters about what goes on in heaven before his suffering comes. Then they would have known an even greater truth - we are all involved in the great struggle between good and evil, the power of life and the power of death, God against Satan and Satan against God. No one is immune. It involves all of us. Not all of us are like Job but all of us find ourselves involved nonetheless.
Another thing that helps is reading through Job like we are on a treasure hunt. There really are some great lines in the middle of all the human debating. Yes, a lot of the debating back and forth can be confusing. There are elements of truth in what each person says but at the same time they are not seeing 'the big picture' either. But there are some things to underline and hold on to. Treasures like -
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth...yet in my flesh I will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Or
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
Look for these and you may find even more.
For the journey...
This time as I am reading through Job in our challenge at Northside to read through the Bible chronologically, I have found some things that help. Job and his friend's perspective on life and suffering is, 'If you suffer you must have done something wrong because suffering is punishment on wickedness.' Today, some might call it 'bad karma.' Job struggles with this because he has done nothing wrong; his friends argue that he must have done something really bad to be suffering so much.
In the end we find out the truth - good people suffer too. The world is not fair, it is a fallen place. Too bad Job and his friends did not know what happens in the first few chapters about what goes on in heaven before his suffering comes. Then they would have known an even greater truth - we are all involved in the great struggle between good and evil, the power of life and the power of death, God against Satan and Satan against God. No one is immune. It involves all of us. Not all of us are like Job but all of us find ourselves involved nonetheless.
Another thing that helps is reading through Job like we are on a treasure hunt. There really are some great lines in the middle of all the human debating. Yes, a lot of the debating back and forth can be confusing. There are elements of truth in what each person says but at the same time they are not seeing 'the big picture' either. But there are some things to underline and hold on to. Treasures like -
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth...yet in my flesh I will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Or
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
Look for these and you may find even more.
For the journey...
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
What do you need to read the Bible successfully?
Some of you are reading through the Bible with me in 2011. For all of us here are some things to keep in mind. Here are some things it takes to read the Bible and keep at it.
A Plan – If you are not reading through the Bible Chronologically with me this year, let me encourage you to find and use another plan. A simple way to start is by simply reading through the Gospels a passage or a chapter a day. You cannot go wrong by reading the Bible but it is best to have some sort of plan. I will be glad to help if you will let me know.
A Place – Have a particular place where you will read the Bible each day, keep your Bible there so you do not have to search for it. Make sure it is a quiet place where you will not be interrupted by other people or things. Some other helpful things to have there are a pen and a notebook or spiral to jot down thoughts, questions or mark verses that are significant. Also have a marker or two in your Bible to mark where you are even if you have a Chronological Bible there will be days you will be interrupted from your plan. Mark where you are.
A Time – Set an appointment each day to meet with God over the pages of your Bible. Make it the same time each day. My number one suggestion is in the morning when you get up. If you are not a morning person, try at night before you go to bed but set a time for everyday. Then set up a “back up” or “make up” time; there will be interruptions. Having a back up time will keep you from getting discouraged and dropping out.
An Attitude – Read the Bible as if it were personally written to you – like a letter or an email. Read it with the attitude that God wants to speak to you through this. He does and He will. Don’t get caught up on the things you don’t understand (and there will be those things) focus on what you do understand.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Letter to Santa
In December of 2001, a letter to Santa was found on the Christmas tree in the Borchers Cottage of the South Texas Children’s Home in Pettus, Texas. The house parents for that cottage were members of my former church and shared her letter with me. The little girl’s name has been changed to protect her identity but her situation speaks for itself. She was placed at South Texas Children’s Home by her struggling family. I have maintained her wording and her spelling so you can hear her heart in her own words.
Dear Santa,
My name is “Sarah.” And I live hare at the home with good houes mom and houes pop. I love them a lot. Becuse without them I whoud not have now God at all. As you know Im not a good kid. I have so meany sins that some kids don’t like me. But I have found something good about me. Something I didn’t know about will this something is love. Now Im going to tell you why Im writing you.
Becuse I wont give up on my famely. I keep on praying and praying but I feel god is not lisoning to me it make me sad that my Dad & Mom don’t whant to try to talke to one enother. So if this goes on are famely will brakup and I don’t whant that to happen. My Dad siad that when my mom has a baby he was getting divorse.
So I ask you for a gift to bring me my family. Let it all be love inside my family. Let it all be peac. And I whant you to know I love them with all my hart.
Well see you soon
Love,
“Sarah”
For the journey...
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